15 Tiger cadres killed in sea battle: MCNS

At least fifteen LTTE cadres were killed and more than 20 wounded when the Navy attacked a flotilla of boats which were attempting to ferry them across from the east to the north, the Media Centre for National Security said.

It said two of the rebel boats were sunk and six out of 26 boats were damaged in the pre-dawn confrontation close to Pulmoodai in the Trincomalee district.

The LTTE cadres who had been trapped in the Thoppigala jungles in Batticaloa had made their way by land towards Pulmoodai from where they were being picked by the boats to be ferried across to Alambil in the Mullaitivu district.

A group of rebels who were making the land journey were also ambushed by Navy along the way to Thiriyaya. The military said several of the cadres were believed to have been killed or injured and their bodies taken away by the fleeing rebels.

The MCNS said navy recovered three claymore mines, one RPG, 18 cyanide capsules, one communication set and some documents at the scene. Two sailors were also injured in the attack.

The LTTE admitted yesterday that it lost three senior Sea Tiger cadres, including a female, in the sea battle with the Navy. The LTTE also claimed it caused heavy damage to two Dvora craft of the Navy.

Meanwhile two fishermen were shot dead and three injured when LTTE cadres fired at them at Thiriyaya.