Sri Lanka Navy and Sea Tiger guerrillas fought a two-hour battle in the north-eastern seas yesterday. Both sides claimed they have inflicted damage and casualties on the other.
Navy spokesman D.K.P. Dassanayake said that more than 20 Tiger guerrilla boats attacked a naval patrol. This patrol was made up of the Navy’s Special Boat Squadron and the Rapid Action Squadron. He claimed that 14 guerrillas, four suicide cadres among them, were killed.
He also said that the Navy had destroyed at least four “suicide craft.” Thereafter, two guerrilla boats were also destroyed by the Air Force that was called in to provide close air support.
The LTTE said in a statement that during the battle it had attacked a Dvora fast attack craft and a landing craft, sinking both. It claimed that a Navy water jet was also damaged.
The LTTE said seven of its Sea Tiger cadres were killed. | 
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