LTTE attack merchant ships carrying essential supplies to civilians; Navy captures suicide boat - Jaffna

LTTE terrorists have carried out a suicide

 attack targeting  Merchant Ship Ruhuna and

 Nimalawa, in the north sea

 of Sri Lanka at 5.10, this morning (Oct 22), defence

 sources said. The attack

 is

 viewed as another cowardly attempt by the terrorists to deny essential

 supplies to the civilians living in war affected areas, the sources added.

Meanwhile, Navy spokesperson, Commander DKP Dassanayake told

 defence.lk that 3 LTTE suicide vessels have come for the attack. Navy sailors

providing security onboard the targeted vessels have engaged machine gun fire at the approaching suicide boats effectively, and destroyed two of them before ramming on the ships, he said.  However, he added that one of the suicide boats  have exploded in close proximity to Merchant Ship Nimalawa causing  slight damages to the ship's hull .

He further said that the third suicide craft has been captured by navy boats. The LTTE suicide cadre who was operating the boat believed to be killed in the Navy retaliation, he added.