3 LTTE arms vessels sunk, 45 LTTE cadres killed: Lankan Navy

Colombo, Sep 11 (UNI) Sri Lankan Navy claimed a major victory against Tamil Tiger Rebels today saying it attacked and sunk three arms vessels in three separate incidents, some 600 km southeast of Sri Lanka, killing at least 45 LTTE cadres onboard.

''We destroyed three LTTE arms vessels during the past 24 hours in the high seas about 200 nautical miles from Sri Lanka.

These ships had no flags, no names and no port of registration at the time of attack,'' Sri Lanka's Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda told reporters here today.

The Navy chief said a well-planned operation was carried out yesterday after receiving credible information with regard to the LTTE arms supply vessels suspected to be carrying three light wing aircraft, artillery guns and bombs to the north.

''In fact they are known as floating warehouses and were staying at sea attempting to enter Sri Lanka from the past few days,'' Admiral Karannagoda said, adding that these ''rogue vessels'' were engaged by a fleet of naval craft, killing all onboard.

Claiming that the lengths of the rebel vessels ranged from 45 to 70 meters, the Navy Chief said each vessel had 12 to 15 cadres at the time of attacks.

Although the LTTE cadres fired at the naval vessels using 120 mm mortar bombs, they failed to cause any damage to the vessels or sailors.

Describing the latest naval attack as a ''massive blow to the LTTE'', Admiral Karannagoda said the navy had effectively sealed-off the entire coastal line preventing the Tamil tigers from continuing their arms smuggling activities.

''Of the ten LTTE gun-running vessels, nine have been destroyed.

I don't think that the LTTE will be able to carry out arms smuggling any longer,'' the Navy chief said, adding that these ships had come from the southeast direction.

''We have a rough idea from where the supplies are coming, but we don't want to go public as it will have other implications,'' he said.

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

UNI