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“High-value LTTE base pounded”

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s air force on Tuesday claimed that its fighter jets pounded “an LTTE base of high value” in the general area Teravilkulama in Mullaittivu district. The military said at least 18 LTTE cadres were killed in fighting in the north.

According to a Defence Ministry statement, the LTTE camp was attacked based on real-time ground information indicating “intensified terrorist activates.”

The target was of ‘high value,’ it said adding that no further comments could be made due to security reasons. It further claimed that the LTTE leadership had lost control over its ranks and that information was coming from “inside” to security forces. “Clashes among senior LTTE cadres and continuous harassment suffered by junior LTTE cadres have facilitated the information flow.”

Separately, the military said that undeterred by adverse weather affecting the Wanni battlefront, army troops continued their surge into LTTE territory and 18 Tiger cadres were killed during confrontations. The troops captured two LTTE bunker defences.

In another development, a pro-LTTE website claimed that LTTE chief V Prabakaran met his “elite” Black Sea Tigers suicide squad before they triggered an explosion on a Sri Lankan Navy craft that killed 10 sailors late last month.

The members were photographed with Prabakaran before the operation. The website identified three men as “Lt Anbumaran, Major Niranjan and Major Kananeela.”

The Sri Lankan Navy on March 22 announced that one of its fast attack craft was caught “in a possible underwater blast.” “The locally built P438 deployed in the northeastern coastal waters off Nayaru near the rebel stronghold of Mullaithivu has sunk due to the explosion,” the Navy said.

On receiving a SOS message from the sinking craft, other sea units launched a rescue mission and six of the 16 crew members were rescued. The Navy had claimed that there was no sea confrontation nor was any LTTE craft present in the area when the incident occurred.

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