Seven Sea Tiger crafts destroyed by Navy and Air Force off Nayaru
2008-11-18 08:39:53

Seven Sea Tiger boats were completely destroyed by the Navy and the Air Force and at least six LTTE cadres were killed off Nayaru, Mullaitivu, today morning, military sources said.

They said the LTTE casualties could be higher.

In a pre-dawn confrontation, Sri Lanka Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) confronted a cluster of sea tiger boats East of Nayaru today morning destroying two sea tiger boats and inflicting heavy damages on another, the Navy said..

The LTTE boat cluster, comprising seven boats were moving off Navaru when the SBS personnel targeted them directing heavy naval fire. Two of the LTTE escort boats were completely destroyed and one sea tiger command boat was severely damaged in the naval fire, the Navy said..

Five LTTE boats which were attempting to flee amidst the naval attack, were engaged by the Sri Lanka Air Force’ (SLAF) helicopter-gunships, which backed the SBS confrontation cutting off their fleeing attempt, the Navy added.

Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said that the five boats were destroyed by the Mi 24 helicopters.

The attack came a day after the army captured a fishing village in the area.