LTTE faces critical shortage of ‘ammo’

Efforts of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to replenish its depleted arsenal suffered a serious setback when the SLN intercepted and destroyed two of its large vessels carrying huge stocks of armaments in separate engagements yesterday (March 18).

Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPVs) tracked them down on the high seas, a senior military official said. The Island learns that four OPVs were deployed to carry out the latest operation which resulted in the first-ever destruction of two LTTE vessels during a confrontation with the navy.

Speculation is that LTTE vessels carried aircraft spares and artillery shells. The possibility of fixed wing aircraft being brought in knocked down condition could not be ruled out. The latest success came in the backdrop of the destruction of large vessel off the southern coast on Feb 28.

The LTTE suffers the latest setback amidst what an authoritative navy official described as a critical shortage of ammunition experienced by the LTTE. The official pointed out that the SLN also denied the LTTE the opportunity to introduce any new weapons which would have given them the upper hand.

Navy headquarters said that yesterday’s action was the most difficult operation ever undertaken by the SLN.

A Fast Missile Vessel (FMV) acquired from Israel, joined SLNS Samudura (Ex-US Coast Guard Cutter P 621), SLNS Sayura (formerly of the Indian Navy) and another Indian OPV now in service with the SLN were deployed to successfully hunt the vessels.

Yesterday's action was FMV’s first since the SLN restored it recently. The SLN is in the process of restoring the second FMV thereby enhancing its offshore capability. SLNS Jayasagara, launched in May 1983 is the oldest OPV in service with the SLN.

The SLN targeted the first LTTE vessel in the morning and the second in the afternoon. The first vessel is bigger than the second. The SLN said there were no survivors. The SLN swung into action several days before the ill-fated vessels made contact with large fishing trawlers on the high seas. The SLN believes that armaments are transferred to fishing trawlers before they reached Sri Lanka via the Gulf of Mannar.

Sri Lanka wants coordinated naval patrols with India to block trawlers bringing in armaments and other supplies originating from South India. Since the capture of an Indian Dhow carrying over 60,000 electrical detonators on Jan 26 last year, the SLN carried out several successful operations. Fast Attack Craft (FACs) intercepted trawlers northeast of Talaimannar (Feb 11 last year) east of Point Pedro (March 21 last year), west of Kudiramalai Point (March 25 last year), West of Arippu (Oct 15 last year), fifth Sand Bank (Oct 31 last year), west of Kuriramalai Point (Nov 14 last year), West of Udappuwa (Nov 27 last year, and North West of Battalangunduwa (Feb 16 this year).