3 SLN boats sunk, 12 troopers killed - LTTE

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 June 2006, 09:21 GMT]
Twelve Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) personnel were killed and three "Blue Star" boats of the SLN were sunk in the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled seas in Mannar districts when SLN boats interrupted a Sea Tiger movement, LTTE media unit said in a press note. Two Sea Tiger cadres sustained minor injuries in the defensive act, the Tigers said.

Three of the four SLN boats involved in the offensive act were sunk and the fourth boat was damaged, the LTTE said.

The Sea Tigers recovered two PKLMG guns, 3 AK 47 automatic rifles, one MP5, two communications equipments and ammunitions from the SLN boats in the clashes that took place around 7:00 a.m. Saturday.

Sri Lanka Army has also shelled Iluppaikkadavai in LTTE territory, according to the press note.