By NNN-PTI,
Colombo : At least 14 Tamil Tigers were killed and 16 others injured on Saturday in a fierce sea battle with the Sri Lankan Navy off the northern coast of the island nation during which four rebel vessels were also destroyed.
“An attempt by a flotilla of Tiger boats to attack naval personnel on duty in the sea between Nagarkovil and Point Pedro was thwarted when sailors engaged the enemy boats destroying at least four of them and killing … 14 Tigers early Saturday morning,” the Defence Ministry said.
The sea battle started when the sailors spotted a fleet of suspicious boats. The Navy Fast Attack Craft then identified the LTTE vessels, probably laden with explosives in order to carry out a clandestine terrorist operation, officials said.
Sri Lankan Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) destroyed four LTTE vessels, killing 14 rebels, including seven LTTE suicide cadres, in the northern sea off Nagarkovil, the navy said.
The SBS and RABS personnel opened heavy fire after intercepting LTTE boats, immobilising their fleeing attempt.
Sixteen LTTE sea Tigers were also wounded in the clash, the navy said, adding five sailors sustained injuries too.
Officials said that at least five senior sea Tigers were among the dead rebels.
Giving cover fire to the navy, Air Force fighter jets destroyed another two LTTE boats at the landing point in Championpattu and Point Pedro in Jaffna.
Pilots confirmed that the two boats were completely destroyed in the air sortie, the Air Force said.