News Flash

As successfully attacks were stepped-up along the Kilali, Muhamalai and Nagarkovil FDLs, the Commander Security Forces Jaffna Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri today ordered for a police curfew in Jaffna starting from 9pm today and ending at 4.30am tomorrow. The reasons for the sudden imposition of the curfew is yet uncertain. Troops from the 58 Division also ambushed a group of women LTTE cadres today capturing 11 bodies.

Meanwhile sources inform DefenceWire that the Sri Lanka Navy could get invited to join a massive naval exercise between the Russian Navy and the Indian Navy. The excercise will be held in the Indian ocean region. During a recent meeting in Moscow, Russia pledged the Sri Lanka military its full support in eradicating the LTTE.

A second suicide attack averted

SLN reconnaissance craft from the Special Boat Squadron spotted an LTTE suicide boat infiltration south of Point Pedro early this morning. The movement's location was off the coast of Nagarkovil.

SBS units called for Rapid Action Boat Squadron reinforcements from PPD to engage the boats effectively. Four suicide boats were surrounded, disabled and completely destroyed by the SLN. Casualties to LTTE is unknown.

Naval sources told DefenceWire that reconnaissance operations were stepped up in this area following the failed attempt on MV Nimalawa and MV Ruhuna a few weeks ago. All three suicide boats that engaged in this mission had been launched from LTTE controlled areas south of Nagarkovil.

The outer hull of Nimalawa was damaged and the inner hull cracked in one place in the suicide blast but the ship's chief engineer managed to drain out the water using several water pumps. The ship, owned by a civilian company is being repaired at a cost of Rs. 1 million.