2ND LEAD

Tigers attack SLN point in Mannaar city

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 May 2008, 03:33 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) mounted a raid on a coastal point of the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) in Koanthaippiddi in Mannaar city in the early hours of Monday around 2:00 a.m. and seized arms and ammunitions from the point, killing three SLN personnel, according to LTTE's Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthiarayan. The LTTE unit which engaged in the attack has recovered the body of a slain SLN trooper, he said. Meanwhile, the Tigers also launched an artillery attack on the installations of the Sri Lanka Army and Navy in Mannaar.

The LTTE has seized one Rocket Propelled Grenade Launcher (RPG), one RPD LMG, a communication set, ammunitions and other military items such as two bullet proof jackets, two helmets.

Tigers were making arrangements to hand over the body of the SLN trooper, Mr. Ilanthirayan said.

The attacked locality was a threatening coastal point from where the SLN had launched attacks against fishermen, he added.

Koanthaippiddi is located inside Sri Lankan High Security Zone in Mannaar city. The point is located near Mannaar Fort.

Informed military sources in Colombo confirmed that a seaborne raid had taken place, but did not provide casualty details.