LTTE ship destroyed; 24 believed killed (Update)

(October, 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) At least 24 LTTE members believed to have been killed when Sri Lankan Navy today attacked and destroyed a ship carrying arms for the LTTE, even as a series of gun-battles in the Country’s troubled north left eight LTTE members and a soldier dead.

"The attack on the ship took place in the Indian Ocean, at the high seas off Dondra Head, of the southern coastal tip of Country at around 9.30 am today," a top naval official said.

"Initially, the Navy had received credible information about the ship bound towards Sri Lanka and detected it," the official said, adding the confrontation resulted in the Navy "completely" destroying the ship and sinking it.

"There were 24 to 25 people aboard the ship and we believe all of them have been killed," Defence Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said.

The Lankan naval task group comprising Off Shore Patrol vessels "SLNS Sayura", "SLNS Sagara", Fast Attack Vessel "SLNS Suranimila" and Rendezvous vessel 521 were engaged in the elite operation.

Later, the Sri Lanka Defence Ministry held a high-level meeting to assess the situation.

The Navy has so far destroyed ten arms vessels belonging to the LTTE, including the three which were destroyed on September 10.