The LTTE hijacked the cargo vessel Princess Cash around 5 am yesterday. The vessel carrying 6,000 tonnes of cargo, including 240 tonnes of cement, food and dry rations had sailed from Colombo to Point Pedro three days ago. The Navy had cautioned all vessels going to the North to sail 50 kilometres away from the coast, but this stipulation could not be adhered to as the vessel was small, company sources said. Around 3.00 p.m. terrorists fired mortars and small arms at troops manning defences southeast and southwest of Mankulam. Troops retaliated with artillery and mortars.
Troops continue to dominate area ahead of defences.
On August 12 during daytime at Kayts in Jaffna district naval troops conducted a search and clear operation in the area and recovered a large quantity of small arms and ammunition. On August 13 around 3.15 p.m. out at sea off Modaragamaru in Puttalam district naval troops on petrol detected 2 suspicious boats. On approaching the suspicious boats were beached and the crew escaped into the jungle.