News - Navy on constant alert against suicide attacks

One of the biggest challenges the Sri Lanka Navy faces is to thwart LTTE suicide attacks which have taken a heavy toll on the navy’s fast attack craft as well as the sailors on board.

Over the years the navy has closely studied the various types of suicide attacks carried out by the guerrillas and the navy is constantly updating its counter attack tactics and taking precautions to prevent such attacks while remaining in a constant state of alert.

Trincomalee which is considered one of the most important naval bases when it comes to the transfer of men and materiel to the north, has been placed under high a security alert with the SLN playing a key role in protecting the sea area while on the lookout to prevent suicide attacks.

Over the past few years more than 15 Dovra fast attack craft have been lost and the Navy considers the prevention of such attacks as one of its biggest challenges.

Based on a wrecked LTTE suicide boat that had taken part in a recent attack which destroyed a Dovra craft, the navy has set up a prototype of the Tiger craft at the Trincomalee Eastern Naval Head Quarters. This was done for the purpose of discovering how best to avert further suicide attacks.

The prototype which is 14 metres in length is powered by four Yamaha 200 horse power engines and a hull which could carry up to 1000 Kg of explosives.

Eastern Navy Commander S. Samaratunga told The Sunday Times the Navy has taken every possible step to counter terrorism in the seas and the Sri Lanka Navy which constantly faces the threat of LTTE suicide attacks is one of the most experienced naval forces in the world having faced a number of suicide attacks.

“The navy has been carrying out research on the LTTE suicide boats and is now prepared for any eventuality the Navy may face on the high seas. LTTE suicide boats which come in various forms are similar to torpedoes. It can even turn out to be a fishing boat packed with explosives,” Rear Admiral Samaratunga told journalists during a visit arranged to brief them about security precautions taken in the area.

“The Navy is adopting several techniques on how to destroy the suicide boats when confronted,” he said.

The Navy was on full alert while patrolling the high seas off Trincomalee and Sampur and also regularly conducts several surveillance operations in China Bay as part of the navy’s increased security operation.

The Navy said LTTE activities along the Sampur coast seems minimal after the military shelling of the area last Thursday.

“The usual cluster of LTTE boats seen in the past is not seen now,” a naval officer in the area said.

He said another new acquisition by the LTTE were the new aerodynamically flat one-man stealth boats that was difficult to pin point from the surrounding waves.

While travelling in the navy gunboat in China Bay it is easy to spot the presence of an air force helicopter out on a surveillance mission over the eastern sea.

The navy had proposed the government equip itself its own helicopter fleet to carry out surveillance but the proposal was turned down due to the cost factor.

The navy has also increased the number of gun boats carrying out surveillance mainly to prevent the LTTE from smuggling in arms and ammunition.

The retaliatory air strikes in the Sampur area soon after the Kebithigollewa claymore mine attack which has so far claimed the lives of 66 civilians also added to the increased tension in the area where violence has become a regular feature of the life of civilians here.

Trincomalee appeared to be tensed and deserted and had the look of a ghost town on Friday with only a few shops open while people remained indoors fearing further violence.