Another Battle at Trincomalee Port

While rarely discussed, there is currently a war at sea taking place, and it is incredibly violent. Sri Lanka is facing a well financed, well organized deadly foe in the Tamil Tigers, and despite assistance from neighbors, has not been able to turn the tide yet in battles at sea. Eagle1 has been covering it for years, and I encourage the curious to review his archives for takes of the various battles that have been fought between the Sri Lanka. In June the fighting at sea occurred off the Jaffna peninsula, the northern island area of Sri Lanka. In July there was a battle off the Trincomalee Port, and on Sunday, there was another battle near the Trincomalee Port

SLN, Sea Tigers clash in the seas off Pulmoaddai

[TamilNet, Sunday, 08 July 2007, 01:19 GMT]
A 3-hour long sea-fight ensued between the Sea Tigers and the Sri Lanka Navy in the seas off Pulmoaddai after SLN Fast Attack Crafts (FACs) attempted to intrude into the waters south of Mullaiththeevu Saturday midnight, LTTE officials in Ki'linochchi told media Sunday. 3 Dvora FACs were damaged in the clash. Two Sea Tigers were killed in action. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Army along the Northern Front in Jaffna peninsula continued intensive artillery and Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire towards the LTTE controlled areas for more than 12 hours from 4:00 p.m. Saturday.

21 SLN vessels, most of them Dvora FACs, took part in the SLN naval mission.

The SLN vessels were chased towards the east port harbour by the Sea Tigers amid heavy artillery fire from the Sri Lanka Army from the shores of Koki'laay, Kokkuththoduvaay, and Pulmoaddai.

The damaged Dvora FACs were towed into east port harbour by the SLN, according to the Tigers.

Sri Lankan military officials in Colombo are yet to realease any details of the clashes.

Heavy fighting in the seas off Pulmoaddai - LTTE

[TamilNet, Sunday, 12 August 2007, 23:02 GMT]
Three Sri Lanka Navy Fast Attack Crafts (FACs) were damaged and more than 20 Dvora gunboats were chased away by the Sea Tigers, the naval force of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), towards Trincomalee port Sunday night after a fierce sea battle off Pulmoaddai that lasted from 10:00 p.m. till 2:30 a.m. Monday, according to Sea Tiger officials in Vanni. Three Sea Tiger fighters were killed in action in the battle.

More than 20 Israeli-built Dvora FACs were "chased away to Trincomalee port after 4 hours of fierce fighting," a Sea Tiger official told TamilNet.

Sri Lankan military engaged in heavy artillery firing towards sea from their positions in Kokki'laay, Kokkuththoduvaay and Pulmoaddai.

A simillar battle off the Pulmoaddai seas was reported a month ago, on 08 July 2024 in the same location.

The Malabar 07-02 exercise is going to be taking place fairly close to this action. I know there are political concerns, but it is somewhat telling that India is building this enormous Navy, and yet some of the most violent, not to mention largest naval battles since the Falklands War are taking place what amounts to just over their southern horizon. The longer India lets the problems in Sri Lanka simmer, the more likely India is going to see China extend some influence into the situation.

China is engaging on all fronts in the energy sector of Sri Lanka, and once investment is realized defense considerations are sure to follow.