Update 3

CDL-built UFAC III in action

One Ultra Fast Attack Craft (UFACII) was destroyed and another damaged in the fierce fight that erupted between SLN Patrol Craft and 16 Sea Tiger Boats Between Delft Island and Mannar this morning. The cluster of 16 Sea Tiger boats included 6 suicide boats and were en route to a Sea Tiger hideout in Nachchikuda, Near Veduthalthivu- Mannar. One suicide boat managed to ram into the CDL manufactured UFAC destroying it completely. At least 12 officers and naval ratings were on board at the time. The body of one officer was later recovered while two ratings were rescued alive by Search and Rescue teams. The objective of the attack was to destroy a Dvora FAC or a UFAC. Further details will follow.

Meanwhile further confirmation of the injuries to LTTE Leader Pripaharan is revealed in the logs maintained by the pilots who flew the mission over Kilinochchi on the 28th. According to them, unusually heavy AA resistance was experienced during the raid over the Kilinochchi suburb. Contrary to a civilian defence columnist, no SAM missiles were fired at the supersonic jets that made a dive-bombing run on the safehouse. The tail of one of the jets was slightly clipped by AA fire when the jet reduced speed to about 600kmph for the dive. This unusual resistance from AA batteries has further confirmed the presence of Pripaharan. It is only customary for the LTTE to station such batteries near his safehouses in fear of aerial bombings and decapitation strikes by the SLAF. The other material proliferating about Pripaharan's purported transfer to a foreign country for medical treatment is largely unverified.

DefenceWire has also received information that the civilian vessel seized off Arugambay on suspicion of arms smuggling has been released following thorough investigations.

Dovra sunk as 2 suicide boats rammed in

A Dovra fast attack craft of Sri Lanka Navy were sunk after 2 LTTE suicide boats rammed in to it,during a fierce sea battle broke out seas off Delft Island in Jaffna,navy sources said.
There were 14 sailors on board when the Dovra was blasted,it is learnt.They all feared dead,but rescue mission is underway to find missing sailors.
Navy engaged with a flotilla of LTTE boats later this morning while serching a suspicious merchant vessel for driffting over seas off Arugambay since last night.
Two of LTTE deadly suicide sea tiger boats rammed in to an Israli made dovra after an hour long intense fight with naval gun boats.
Russian made MI24 helicopter gunships were also called for the assiatance according to navy.
Senior Navy officials in Colombo say at least 04 tiger boats were destroyed during the attack.They believed that the sea tiger boats were giving escort to Tiger arms shipment,from Indian waters,the charge canot be verified independently.
Meanwhile fierce fighting going on Adampan area,in Mannar since this morning according to reliable information.
At least 39 army soldiers who sustained injuries in the fighting, were air lifted from battle field this morning,army officials said in condition of anonymity.

Navy detain a suspicious ship

Navy detain a suspicious cargo vessel, 90 Nautical Miles off Arugambay last night with 12 members of Indonesian crew,senior navy officials said.
Two of Sri Lankan Naval vessel detect the suspicious vessel while it was drifting over the sea and apprehended,according to initial information received.
It is likely that the ship will be brought to either to Trincomalee or Galle harbour for further investigations.