10/11/2007

Sri Lanka Navy Inshore Patrol Craft (IPCs) this morning (October 11) confronted with two small size LTTE logistic boats in the coastal waters, North of Thallaimannar and seized two remote controlled aircraft along with many other sophisticated military equipment destined to the terrorists.

Navy sources said that the attack was taken place around 5.30.a.m when the IPCs detected two suspicious boats moving towards mainland. When the IPCs approached the suspicious boats for checking purpose, the boats have opened fire at the navy boats, sources added. Navy has observed four LTTE cadres onboard the boats and believes all of them to be killed in the incident. Later, both LTTE boats have been captured by the Navy.

Inside the boats, navy has found two remote controlled aircraft - one fixed wing aircraft with about 6ft wingspan and the other a miniature helicopter which is about 1ft in length. Among the other items that have been found inside the boats, there were four radio communication sets, ten hand-held Global Positioning Systems (GPS), four satellite phones, 45 radio antennas, 100 electronic circuit boards, battery charges and 300 litres of hydraulic oil.

Defence observers call the incident as another example of navy's effectiveness in curbing LTTE's arms smuggling activities across Gulf of Mannar.