Tigers destroy gunboat in Trincomalee SLN Yard

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 October 2000, 02:25 GMT]
A gunboat and a troop carrier were destroyed in a major attack by the Liberation Tigers in the Naval Yard in the Trincomalee harbour Monday morning around 5.45 a.m. At least 25 Sri Lanka Navy personnel were wounded and 2 were killed in the attack initial reports said.

Fighting erupted when a group of Sea Tiger craft had attempted to enter the Sri Lanka Naval Yard in the Trincomalee harbour SLN sources in the eastern port town said.

The LTTE had simultaneously shelled the Yard with mortars from the Marble Beach on the southern side of the Trincomalee Bay.

Trincomalee was rocked by the fierce attack by the Liberation Tigers in the Sri Lanka Navy yard in the harbour from about 5.50 to 6.20 a.m. Monday morning. Residents said that the massive explosions and gun fire was heard from the direction of the Naval yard.

The ferry service to Mutur was suspended and civilian workers were not allowed to enter the harbour this morning.

Details of casualties were not immediately known. The Navy has launched a rescue operation sources said.