30 LTTE terrorists, six sailors killed in Pesalai

Over thirty LTTE cadres were believed to be killed in an abortive attack on a Navy sub detachment in Pesalai, Mannar yesterday morning.

Six sailors were also killed in the confrontation. Sea Tigers attacked a routine sea patrol and later fired at Navy sub detachment using grenade launchers and 12.7mm Multi-Purpose Machine Gun (MPMG).

A nearby police post also came under LTTE fire. Navy spokesman Commander P. D. K. Dassanayake said eight sea Tiger boats were destroyed in the Navy retaliation. Three boats were partially damaged. One civilian was killed and over thirty were injured in a grenade attack on the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Pesalai. Security Forces and LTTE blamed each other for the attack.

Navy spokesman Commander Dassanayake said civilian casualties could have been caused when a grenade fired by the LTTE hit the church premises.

Meanwhile, a sailor was killed and two others were missing and feared dead, when a Navy fibreglass boat capsized in off Pamunugama due to rough seas. The boat was on a patrol mission after three suspected LTTE cadres were caught in the Pamunugama area along with diving kits.