Heavy causalities reported in Sri Lanka both in land and sea

By David Sabapathy - TNS

COLOMBO – Easter weekend sees an escalation of war in Sri Lanka. Heavy clashes reported both sea and land. The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) claims their elite Black Sea Tigers, engaged in a confrontation with a fleet of Sri Lanka Navy in the seas off rebel held Mullaiththeevu, attacked and sunk a SLN Dvora Fast Attack Craft  (Dvora FAC 438) between Mullaiththeevu and Naayaa'ru at 2:10 a.m. Saturday.

At least 14 Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) sailors were killed in the clashes, the Tigers claim. Three Black Sea Tigers, Lt. Col. Anpumaran, Major Niranjani and Major Kaninila were killed in action in the fighting that lasted for 45 minutes from 2:00 a.m. Saturday, they further claims. Meanwhile, SLN sources in Colombo said 10 SLN sailors were missing. Sixteen sailors were on board the SLN further said.

The SLN also claimed that the FAC had hit a sea mine and was completely destroyed before it sank. Denying confrontations in the sea, the SLN said it had launched a search operation to locate the missing sailors.

The Sri Lankan air force jets immediately struck back, launching multiple bombing raids on Sea Tiger radar and command positions near Nayaru and Puthukudyiruppu, which they claim may have played a role in the rebel attack.

Later in the day the Tamil Tigers claimed that they thwarted two large scale forward attempt by the land forces in Palakuli and Inthikandal and killing over 55 soldiers and wounding another 120. The heavy fighting started at 4.30 am and lasted over 12 hours and dies down at 5 pm, rebel sources further claims.

Civilian sources in Vanni claim that both side used heavy artillery and motor exchange during their heavy fight. They also said Mannar – Vavuniya road was closed for traffic to facilitate evacuation of wounded soldiers.  

Earlier two soldiers were killed and 11 others sustained serious injuries when a suspected LTTE claymore mine exploded targeting an army bus in highly secured South Bar area in Mannar.