Attack On Galle Harbor Repulsed Says Navy
(Update 9, releads, adds comment from resident)

Sri Lanka forces repulsed an LTTE attack on the Galle Harbor Wednesday, a Navy official said. The Media Centre for National Security said 2 LTTE boats exploded at the entrance to the Galle harbor, while Navy destroyed 3 LTTE boats on Wednesday.
The attack started at around 7.45am. Two Navy vessels were damaged in the attack by the LTTE in boats posing as fishing boats, the Navy official said.
“It has been reported that five explosive laden vessels under the guise of fishermen have come for the attack. Three suicide boats were completely destroyed by the Navy whilst the other two exploded themselves at the close proximity to the harbour,” the Ministry of Defence reported on its website defence.lk.
One person was killed and 26 wounded, hospital sources and the Ministry of Defence said. One sailor is still missing. The injured were taken to the General Hospital Karapitiya.
A curfew was imposed in Galle town. SSP Keerthi De Silva said there was no rioting or damages to Tamil property and curfew had been swiftly imposed despite a report by a wire news agency that a riot had resulted in Tamil shops being attacked.
“There may have been some small incidents, but there is no major rioting,” one Sinhalese resident in Galle said.
Forces are also conducting a search operation in the Rumansala Jungle after some firing in the area.
The Galle-Matara main road is to remain closed to facilitate a counter terrorist operation, the Ministry of Defence said.