Boat explosion reported off Mannar, four feared killed

[TamilNet, Saturday, 11 February 2006, 13:58 GMT]
At least four persons were feared killed in an explosion involving a boat off the seas of Pesalai in Mannar, Saturday afternoon Police said. Sri Lankan Police said those on board the suspect vessel set the explosion that destroyed the boat when a Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) vessel tried to intercept the boat. Meanwhile, fishermen in Pesalai, expressed fears that the victims could be civilians travelling in a boat with high horsepower engines, that came under RPG fire from the SLN vessel.

Fishermen in Pesalai witnessed smoke from the explosion till 7:00 p.m.

An SLN sailor, who fell unconscious following the incident, was transferred to Anuradhapura hospital for treatment, Police said.

Further details are not available at the moment.