SL navy clashes with Sea Tigers in East, 12 dead

Colombo, May 5: Sri Lankan navy today claimed that it confronted a flotilla of Sea Tiger boats in the Eastern seawaters late last night and destroyed two rebel boats, killing at least 12 Sea Tigers onboard.

According to the naval officials, the deep sea clash was triggered off when the navy, on a routine patrol, detected a group of 25 rebel boats, including four explosives-laden suicide boats and ten armed craft, moving from Nayaru towards Pulmoddai in the eastern Trincomalee district around 11.30 pm.

''We confronted the Sea Tiger flotilla and destroyed at least two of their armed craft, killing at least 12 cadres onboard,'' a top naval official said this morning, adding that six small boats were also damaged in the clash.

He said that two naval sailors were also injured in the incident.

However, there was no immediate reaction from the LTTE in this regard.

The Sri Lankan navy and the Sea Tigers frequently clash in the eastern seawaters as the Tigers are believed to have been making their supplies for the cadres in the rebel-held areas of east via sea.

UNI

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