Attackers in 50 body bags - Karannagoda

Vice Admiral Wasantha Karrannagoda, the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy said that the "LTTE was totally vanquished after 11 of its boats left the Vettilkerni shore to attack the Pearl Cruise.'' Now, the LTTE, he said, is packing 50 bodies into bags as a result of it.

According to the Vice Admiral, three LTTE craft were sunk, and four others were damaged, and the Pearl Cruise was escorted to the safety of the harbour by the accompanying craft. But the best testimony is of the SLMM officials on board who saluted the valour of the Navy, for being outnumbered, but yet repulsing the attack.

Statistically, that's a statement underscored by the fact that one Navy craft was destroyed, as opposed to four in the LTTE's advancing flotilla, he said.

The trick was with the escort craft. The outer ring engaged the Tiger boats, and the inner ring saw the ship to safety, and that's how his men triumphed, Karannagoda told the Sunday Observer.