COLOMBO: Sri Lankan forces on Saturday claimed to have killed at least 80 LTTE cadres in a fierce six-hour naval battle along the coast of Point Pedro up to Kankesanthurai harbour.

An official announcement said the naval forces successfully repulsed a Sea Tigers attack, which attempted to destroy a naval installation along the coast of Point Pedro up to Kankesanthurai harbour. The Navy retaliated with fast attack craft and fast attack gunboats. "The confrontation erupted near Thaliyadi after naval fast attack craft detected a cluster of suspected boats making way towards the Kankesanthurai harbour at 8 p.m. on Friday," Navy spokesman D.P.K. Dasanayaka said.

A press release from the Media Center for National Security said 12 Sea Tiger craft, including five suicide boats, were destroyed. At least 80 Sea Tiger cadres were killed and many injured. Two sailors suffered minor injuries and two naval fast attack craft sustained minor damage. "It's evident that LTTE cadres are attempting to destroy and constrict sea transportation service to the Jaffna peninsula," it said.

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