Troops foil Sea Tiger attack

** Over 10 enemy boats destroyed

By Ranil WIJAYAPALA

Fierce fighting erupted in Chalai area on Friday night and continued till yesterday morning as troops of the 55 Division under the command of Brigadier Prasanna Silva advanced further south of Chalai along the coastal belt and destroyed the Tiger defence line south of Chalai, military officials from the battleground said yesterday.

The 55 Division troops also foiled a major Sea Tiger attack on the ground troops amidst heavy fighting that continued in Chalai. “More than 20 Tiger boats attempted to land in Chalai under the direct command of Sea Tiger leader Soosai.

The attempt was effectively thwarted by the 55 Division troops destroying more than 10 of their boats”, the officials added. A suicide boat was also destroyed by the ground troops as it came towards the troops operating in the lagoon front. The ground troops foiled more than 15 counter attacks by the LTTE killing more than 20 of their cadres during the battle that continued till yesterday noon. Troops also suffered injuries as LTTE launched a massive assault on the ground troops advancing towards South of Chalai.

According to military officials the LTTE is heavily resisting the Security Forces advancing to the South of Chalai as it would pave the way for the civilians trapped in the No Fire Zone to flee towards the Security Forces controlled areas.