The navy intercepted fleeing LTTE cadres killing a senior Sea Tiger Intelligence leader and nine others in a fierce fight which erupted in the seas off Pulmodai, defence sources said.

According to defence sources, LTTE communications intercepts revealed that senior sea Tiger Intelligence leader Neelan bearing LTTE ID card no: 0018 and nine other Sea Tigers were killed on Saturday in the sea battle between the Navy and the LTTE in Trincomalee.  

Navy personnel operating north of Trincomalee on Saturday confronted a group of LTTE cadres suspected to be fleeing Thoppigala.

The Navy successfully repulsed the attack inflicting heavy damages to the LTTE. The LTTE attack craft fled the area in the face of heavy Naval firing, abandoning their mission to beach in the Kuchchiveli area to transport Tiger cadres to the Vanni, defence sources said. Troops captured Tora Bora camp of the LTTE in Thoppigala and making further advances.