Sri Lankan Navy and the Sea Tigers were engaged in fierce gun battle in the northern seas on Wednesday leaving heavy damages on both sides in terms of man and materials at a time when the country is marking the third anniversary of the tsunami disaster.
Sri Lanka's Defence Ministry claimed that six attack boats, including two suicide craft, of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam were destroyed during a heavy sea battle erupted on Wednesday morning in seas south off Delft.
"According to latest information, Navy fast attack craft triumphed destroying six LTTE boats, while unconfirmed sources reveal at least 40 terrorists were killed during the sea confrontation," the Defence Ministry said.
It said that fierce clashes erupted when the naval fast attack craft engaged routine patrol confronted a cluster 16 LTTE boats carrying warlike materials towards rebel-held Nachchikuda areas.
"Further information said, a dockyard built naval craft was damaged when two suicide LTTE boats exploded in the naval retaliatory attacks. The damaged boat is now being towed towards the Kankesanthurai harbour by the navy," the Defence Ministry said.
Meanwhile, a pro-LTTE Tamilnet website claimed that a Dvora fast attack craft of the Sri Lankan navy was 'completely destroyed' during the confrontation. Further details are not available immediately.
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