Civilians Flee Rising Violence in Sri Lanka

Palachchenai Kadiraveli, 29, managed to board a fishing boat with her daughter and 20 others before dawn on Thursday, escaping across a lagoon patrolled by navy fast attack boats to government-held territory.

"There were a lot of explosions, so many people dead and wounded," she said after landing near the town of Valachchenai. "A lot of children died.

"My husband stayed behind to protect our belongings. There are thousands of people trying to leave," she said, clutching two bags containing clothes and a bottle of soda.