Colombo (PTI): Suspected LTTE rebels on Monday launched heavy artillery attacks on a government ship carrying 500 metric tonnes of food and rations for the displaced people in the embattled north of Sri Lanka, officials said.

The ship MV Bintan carrying CGS Cargo from Trincomalee to Putumatlan in Mullaittivu came under heavy shelling by suspected LTTE militants during unloading, the army said.  

The ship had cast off from Trincomalee on Saturday with the biggest shipment dispatched since the beginning of the humanitarian war in the North so far for the Tamil Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS).  

The ship had reached Putumatalan around 7.30 a m on Sunday and had unloaded 142 metric tonnes when the attack took place. 

According to the captain of the ship, the LTTE had launched heavy artillery attacks around 8.30 a m.  

The unprovoked attack has compelled the ship to penetrate further into the deep seas where the bad weather conditions have aggravated the situation, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.  

According to officials, the LTTE attack has now moved to deeper seas off Putumatalam. No damages to the ship have been reported so far.  

The supplies included flour (399 tonnes) dhal (61 tonnes), kerosene (1400 tonnes), sugar (20 tonnes) and vegetable oils (21 tonnes), a statement said.

Courtesy: Hinduonnet.com