Jump to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

கருத்துக்களம்

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

Suicide Raid on Sri Lanka Navy Base Kills 16

Featured Replies

Suicide Raid on Sri Lanka Navy Base Kills 16

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels attacked a naval base in an apparent suicide mission in the southern city of Galle on Wednesday, leading to at least 16 deaths and triggering brief looting of minority Tamil shops.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

News Photos: See the latest news as it happens with photos on demand!

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels attacked a naval base in an apparent suicide mission in the southern city of Galle on Wednesday, leading to at least 16 deaths and triggering brief looting of minority Tamil shops.

It was the latest in a series of blows to an already battered peace process that have dimmed hopes ahead of planned peace talks between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Geneva on October 28-29.

Wednesday's attack on the Dakshina base in Galle came two days after nearly 100 people, mostly navy sailors, were killed in a suicide bombing on a convoy in a north-central district.

"Five Sea Tiger boats ... disguised as fishing boats arrived to attack the Dakshina naval base," the defense ministry said.

"The navy destroyed ... three suicide boats and the other two approached the Galle harbor, self-detonating at the entrance," it said in a statement.

Military officers and the pro-rebel Web site www.tamilnet.com said 15 rebels were on the boats. One navy sailor was killed, and 15 wounded, the military added.

Smoke billowed from two or three spots on the sea front after the explosions and dozens of residents gathered on a road by the beach as troops took position, witnesses said.

News of the raid sparked minor looting in Galle, with some Sinhala criminal gangs targeting two shops belonging to the minority Tamil community, residents and police said.

Police opened fire in the air and dispersed the mobs before bringing the situation under control, they said. A curfew was also imposed on the town.

Elsewhere, at least 20 vehicles being driven by Tamils and minority Muslims were stoned and damaged by Sinhala gangs in the north-central region where Monday's suicide attack took place, Tamilnet said. Local police said the report was false.

NO BREAKTHROUGH EXPECTED

Galle is a tourist town about 113 km (70 miles) south of the capital, Colombo, far from the northern and eastern strongholds of the rebels where much of the violence in the Indian Ocean island has been concentrated.

Wednesday's attack was the first such in the scenic coastal region which is popular with foreign tourists. The port at Galle, home to a 17th Century Dutch-built fort which is now a world heritage site, is also one of Sri Lanka's oldest and biggest.

Galle was badly hit by the 2004 tsunami and has been the focus of reconstruction efforts by many aid groups.

The raid came a day after the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) reiterated their commitment to planned peace talks in Geneva on October 28 and 29.

Few expect the talks to achieve a breakthrough in the face of continued fighting and deep distrust. Hundreds of people have been killed in spiraling violence since late July that shattered a truce brokered in 2002.

Last week, dozens of troops and rebels were killed and hundreds wounded in one of the deadliest battles since the truce.

More than 65,000 people have been killed since 1983 when the rebels began fighting for an independent Tamil homeland.

The LTTE attacks on the military in Sinhala areas was aimed at triggering a backlash against minority Tamils living in the south of the island, defense spokesman and minister Keheliya Rambukwella told a weekly news briefing.

"The LTTE are trying to establish their strength and gain a psychological edge before the Geneva talks," he said.

Copyright 2006 Reuters. click for restrictions

Copyright © 2003-2006 Clear Channel. All rights reserved.

Ads by Google

Surplus Military Tents

Over 2,500 Tents In Stock US Mil. Surplus & Relief Goods

www.armytents.com

http://www.965kvki.com/cc-common/news/sect...ewsarticle.html?

feed=104668&article=1488231

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.