Lankan navy destroys LTTE boat off Mannar

Colombo, May 5 (UNI) Sri Lankan Navy today destroyed an LTTE boat during a clash with the LTTE's Sea Tiger faction off Mannar sea, military sources here said.

''The navy's Off-Shore Patrol Vessel (OPV) was fired upon by four LTTE boats this morning in Kuthiraimalai seas off Kalpitiya.

The navy retaliated the LTTE fire and destroyed one LTTE boat,'' Military Spokesman, Brig Prasad Samarasinghe told UNI.

He said the Navy OPV got ''slightly damaged'' during the clash while the other three LTTE boats had withdrawn.

''The casualty details on the LTTE side are not known immediately,'' he added.

There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE in this regard.

More than 200 people have died in the last month in suspected rebel attacks, ethnic riots, killings and air and artillery strikes, raising fears that a 2002 truce might fail and civil war return.

UNI XC KD DS1506