SRI LANKA ? The number of refugees in eastern Sri Lanka went past 100,000 after heavy fighting in rebel-held parts of the island has forced 15,000 civilians to flee their homes in the past two days, the Red Cross said Saturday.

Battles have escalated in recent days between government troops and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels in parts of the country’s rebel strongholds after a few weeks’ lull.

International Committee of the Red Cross official Davide Vignati said that since November, about 105,000 displaced people have fled to government-controlled refugee camps in the eastern district of Batticaloa – the largest number of displaced persons in one district.