Firefight in Mathakal sea

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 January 2006, 00:02 GMT]
Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) patrol boats and two unknown boats exchanged fire in Mathakal, Senthankulam seas west of Kankesanthurai Naval camp between 6.55 p.m. and 7.40 p.m., Friday, SLN sources said. The two boats were moving in a suspicious manner and when the SLN opened fire the boats returned fire, SLN sources added.

There were no injuries to Navy soldiers. The unknown boats disappeared from the scene after the firefight, Navy sources said.

Residents of the area said it is still not known if the said boats belonged to fishermen or to the sea tigers. Details are yet to emerge on the identity of the boats.

In the meantime, fearing reprisals from the Navy soldiers, more than one hundred fisher families living near the shores of Mathakal and Senthankulam are moving inland, residents said.