Navy sinks LTTE fleet, 70 Tigers believed dead

The Sri Lankan Navy successfully repulsed an LTTE attack and sunk nearly a dozen terrorist boats. At least nine LTTE boats were sunk immediately and two other explosive laden craft caught fire when the Naval fire hit them. It is believed that about 70 LTTE cadres died in the battle.

The latest fighting began late Sunday night when the navy spotted 25 rebel ships sailing south. Navy Cmdr. D. K. P. Dassanayake said that two vessels, believed to have been transporting arms and ammunition, were burning at sea. 
 
The remaining 14 rebel boats retreated after the hostilities just off the coast of the eastern town of Pulmoddai, about 225 kilometers (140 miles) from the Colombo. One navy vessel was damaged, injuring five sailors, he said. But it had made it back to port. 
 
The LTTE craft were detected near Alampil area and heading towards Trincomalee around 9.45 p.m. on Sunday. When the enemy boat cluster was off PULMODAI, Fast Attack Craft confronted Sea Tigers and avoided moving further southward. Reinforcement was rushed to the area from the Northern and Eastern Naval Commands.
 
During a fierce sea battle which lasted for nearly five hours, the Sri Lanka Navy’s Fast Attack Craft taught the Sea Tigers a haunting lesson. On completion of the confrontation only 14 craft were seen fleeing as 02 Sea Tiger craft caught fire initially and another 09 sank along with the crew. The withdrawing 14 craft included badly damaged 05 Tiger boats on tow.
 
Aerial reconnaissance assistance of the Sri Lanka Air Force was called to confirm that the Tiger terrorists are not planning to divert the attention of the Navy and thereby carry out a cargo unloading elsewhere in the Eastern coast. 
 
Enemy communication intercepts confirm that this Sea battle was commanded by the third in command of the Sea Tiger wing “SELIYAN” and his boat was among those which were badly damaged in the confrontation. The Tiger higher Sea command was desperate of bringing back the third in command but feared he is seriously injured or killed as he never communicated after the two Sea Tiger craft caught fire initially.