Navy thwarts LTTE bid to attack ground troops by Sea

Sri Lanka Navy foiled a desperate attempt made by the LTTE terrorists to attack ground troops during wee hours today (Apr 26), navy sources said.

According to the sources, navy patrol craft deployed in the Northeastern coastal waters of the Island detected a cluster of LTTE attack boats setting off from Vellamullaivaikkal shore around 1 AM. The Navy boats having identified that the terrorists were trying to attack ground troops now concentrated on the narrow stretch of land, in the Valayarmadam area, intercepted and attacked the terrorist boat.

Navy claimed that three of the LTTE boats were sunk and at least 12 terrorists were killed in the confrontation that lasted for few hours. The rest of the LTTE boats fled with the casualties, the sources added.

Sri Lanka Navy maintains four blockades in the Northeastern waters of the Island to prevent the terrorist use of sea lines of communication. The blockades extend from the coastal waters to deep sea and manned by Fast Attack Craft (FACs), Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs), Fast Gun Boats (FGBs), the Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) and the Special Boat Squadron (SBS)