MADRAS, India: Tamil rebels claimed Saturday that they had attacked two Sri Lankan naval boats, sinking one and drowning all 17 people aboard.
The Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front said separatist guerrillas fired mortars from shore Friday at two armored raft off Oorkavalthurai on the northern Jaffna peninsula.
One boat sank with 17 men aboard and the other was heavily damaged, a Tamil press release said.
Another militant group, meanwhile, reported that the Sri Lankan armed forces are preparing for a massive offensive to retake the rebel-controlled northern Jaffna peninsula.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said large scale troop’s movements are under way in the north. New types of bomber planes and naval gunboats have been moved to bases in the northern part of the island, i said.
A “Tiger” press release said the army had mobilized troops in 300 vehicles, including heavy armored cars, armored personnel carriers and tanks moving from Anuradhapura to Kilinochchi.
Army and navy personnel have arrived by sea in large numbers at Karainager naval base and Palali army camp, the rebels said.
The Tamils said the first major offensive by the Sri Lankan army on May 17 was defeated after stiff resistance by the “Tiger” guerrillas.
It said about 100 Tamil civilians had been killed and another 100 were missing since Sri Lankan President Junius R. Jayewardene began peace talks last week with moderate Tamil leaders.
Article extracted from this publication >> July 25, 1986
