“Sri Lanka Navy today destroyed an LTTE arms ship, Matsushima, south of Dondra Point. This is the tenth LTTE arms ship to be destroyed by the navy since 2003,” naval spokesman, Commander D K P Dassanayake told reporters.

According to Commander Dassanayake, the destroyed 70-feet LTTE ship was suspected to be carrying high-speed boats, waterjets and radars to Wanni from an undisclosed port.

“We destroyed this ship after a week long operation in the high seas. According to our intelligence reports it was carrying radars, GPS, waterjets, speed boats and some undisclosed equipment related to intelligence monitoring,” Dassanayake said, adding that all those who were against terrorism were assisting Sri Lanka in destroying the  LTTE’s arms shipment.

This is the second such operation by the Sri Lankan Navy within a short spell of one month.

On September 11, the navy claimed that it destroyed three LTTE gun-running allegedly killing at least 45 LTTE cadres onboard.

“All ten arms ships of the LTTE have now been destroyed, but they are a terrorist outfit and they buy new ships tomorrow,” he said. There was no damage to the three Sri Lankan naval ships or the sailors in this operation, he added.

There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE in this regard.