LTTE bid on Navy outpost foiled

Sea Tiger leader among the dead:

Rafik Jalaldeen

MANNAR: The Navy successfully foiled another LTTE attempt to breach a navy outpost in the Erikkilampitty coastal area in Mannar yesterday killing six Sea Tiger cadres including a sea operations leader and also destroyed a boat.

Addressing the media on the weekly security situation, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said a Navy outpost in Erikkilampitty, Mannar Islet had come under an LTTE attack around 2.15 a.m. "A cluster of six LTTE boats deployed from Vedithaltivu attempted to breach the Navy outpost and sailors bravely obstructed the LTTE thrust causing heavy damage to the LTTE", he added.

Six Sea Tigers were killed including their leader Sirimaran. "An LTTE boat was completely destroyed while the rest fled from the area towards Vedithaltivu," Brigadier Nanayakkara said. Naval troops effectively repulsed the LTTE attack making heavy resistance towards the LTTE sea movement.

"Two sailors were killed and three others sustained injuries in the clash," he added. Meanwhile, an Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunship carried out an air raid targeting the LTTE boats fleeing the scene in Erikkilampitty yesterday morning, Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Wing Commander Nanayakkara said the Air Force gunships carried out an air attack off the Pesalai seas around 4.45 a.m. targeting boats feeling after attacking the Navy outpost in Erikkilampitty.

"The air raid at the Sea Tiger boats were successful.

However, the damages were not confirmed and will be notified in due course," he added.