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October 23, 2000
   
mso-bidi-language:AR-SA"> Six suicide bombers, using four boats full of explosives, attacked the naval base at Trincomalee in the northeast, damaging a ferry and a navy gunboat. An air force helicopter gunship was also shot down during the attack. While the suicide boats went in, other rebels outside the base fired mortars and machineguns.  The ferry required repairs, the gunboat remained ready for service. At least seventeen people died, and many more were injured.  The 120,000 man armed forces is seeking to expand it's strength by another 10,000, while at the same time replacing heavy desertion losses. By comparison, combat losses are not that great.