Apr 21, Colombo: Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gun ships in a night time raid on Sunday (20) destroyed an LTTE mortar launching pad and a 'forward operating position' east of Adampan in Mannar while Air Force fighter jets this morning destroyed three more Sea Tiger boats south of Mullaitivu, Defense Ministry reported.

The targeted mortar launching pad in the night raid was located 3-4 km north of the Mannar forward defense lines.

Quoting Air force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya, the report said that the air raid was launched around 10.30 pm last night as a pre-emptive measure to assist the advancing ground troops who are engaged in counter terrorist offensives in the area.

The military claimed the air raid was successful and 12 Tigers at the target site were killed in the raid. Army artillery attacks followed the air raid, defense sources said.

The raid this morning destroyed three Tiger boats spotted in the sea off Alampil, about 10 km south of Mullaitivu, Two boats were beached when the fighter jets attacked them while the other was in the sea on a reconnaissance mission, the military said.