LTTE attackers routed in Point Pedro battle

The Sri Lankan navy successfully repulsed a twilight to dawn attack on its craft by the LTTE yesterday, using suicide boats off the seas of Point Pedro, in a bid to infiltrate Jaffna via the sea route.

Thirty LTTE boats were involved in the attack, but at the end of the pitched sea battle, eight including five carrying suicide cadres exploded.

Five LTTE vessels were sunk and the rest were seen retreating, some in heavily damaged condition.

The defending Navy had two of its boats slightly damaged. Three naval personnel were injured.

The motive for the attack was to open a sea route -- and it was launched in three separate pincher movements.

This was the second time that the Navy repulsed aggressive attacks on its craft since the LTTE decided to dishonour the ceasefire. In earlier attacks aimed at vessels carrying over 800 naval personnel, the LTTE retreated similarly with very heavy casualties.