SLN, Sea Tigers clash in Jaffna lagoon

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 October 2006, 16:10 GMT]
Gunboats of Sea Tigers and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) clashed for 5-hours in the Kilaly bay Thursday morning from 3:30 a.m. to 8:30. A Sri Lankan naval source that did not wish to be identified said their gunboats off Kerathivu had mistaken Sea Tiger patrol vessels in Sangupitty area as an LTTE attempt to launch an attack on Jaffna.

LTTE vessels alleged to have set off from Pooneryn Munai via Sangupitty jetty area toward the Kilaly bay, were observed by Keratheevu naval troops who began the attack on the Sea Tigers.

The Sri Lanka Army (SLA), based in Gurunagar, Pasaiyoor, Ariyalai east, southern and western parts of Thenmaradchy, Kokilakandy, Thanagkilappu and Keratheevu supported the SLN with heavy mortar and artillery fire launched form their positions.

The LTTE from its Sangupitty base retaliated.