A Truce Monitor on board a Navy patrol boat in the sea off Trincomalee suffered injuries, as suspected LTTE cadres, in a deliberate ceasefire violation, fired at the boat yesterday morning, Military Spokesman Brigadier Daya Ratnayake told the Daily News yesterday.
The Navy boat on routine patrol came under LTTE fire around 9.52 a.m. in the sea off Upparu, in Trincomalee.
The Truce Monitor on board the Naval boat sustained injuries while running for cover.
"It was a deliberate attempt by the LTTE to provoke the Navy since the SLMM flag was clearly visible and there was every possibility that the LTTE knew about the presence of a SLMM monitor on board," Brigadier Ratnayake added.
The LTTE cadres had fired 75 to 100 rounds at the boat from the land side in Upparu, Brigadier Ratnayake added.
SLMM monitor Alf Stoelam sustained injuries during the incident, when running for cover, the Spokesman added.
The boat, damaged in the incident was later brought to the Sri Lanka Navy camp in Trincomalee.
SLMM spokesperson Helan Olaffsdottir told the Daily News that the SLMM was yet to conclude whether yesterday's attack was a violation of the ceasefire. "We are conducting forensic investigations on the Navy boat to ascertain where the shots were fired from."
She further added that they were in contact with the LTTE ascertain as to why they fired at the Navy boat adding that they have not given any ruling on the incident. She said the presence of the truce monitor on board the Navy boat doesn't make any change towards giving their ruling.
However, she said no one was injured in the incident.
Khalid
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