2 9 COLOMBO COLOMBO NNP 9 10 , , , 11 15 Sept Sept NNP 16 18 16 16 CD 19 20 ( ( ( 20 23 AFP AFP NNP 23 24 ) ) ) 25 26 - - HYPH 27 32 Tamil Tamil NNP 33 38 Tiger Tiger NNP 39 45 rebels rebel NNS 46 54 launched launch VBD 55 56 a a DT 57 65 flotilla flotilla NN 66 68 of of IN 69 74 boats boat NNS 75 77 to to TO 78 84 attack attack VB 85 86 a a DT 87 92 ferry ferry NN 93 101 carrying carry VBG 102 107 1,200 1,200 CD 108 114 troops troop NNS 115 117 in in IN 118 126 northern northern JJ 127 130 Sri Sri NNP 131 136 Lanka Lanka NNP 137 143 Sunday Sunday NNP 143 144 , , , 145 150 hours hour NNS 151 156 after after IN 157 159 an an DT 160 175 explosive-laden explosive-laden JJ 176 180 boat boat NN 181 186 tried try VBD 187 189 to to TO 190 193 ram ram VB 194 195 a a DT 196 200 navy navy JJ 201 208 gunboat gunboat NN 209 211 in in IN 212 213 a a DT 214 221 suicide suicide NN 222 229 mission mission NN 229 230 , , , 231 234 the the DT 235 242 defence defence NN 243 251 ministry ministry NN 252 256 said say VBD 256 257 . . . 264 265 A a DT 266 273 cluster cluster NN 274 276 of of IN 277 279 at at IN 280 285 least least JJS 286 288 20 20 CD 289 294 boats boat NNS 295 297 of of IN 298 301 the the DT 302 312 separatist separatist JJ 313 323 Liberation Liberation NNP 324 330 Tigers Tigers NNP 331 333 of of IN 334 339 Tamil Tamil NNP 340 345 Eelam Eelam NNP 346 347 ( ( ( 347 351 LTTE LTTE NNP 351 352 ) ) ) 353 360 mounted mount VBD 361 364 the the DT 365 373 pre-dawn pre-dawn JJ 374 380 attack attack NN 381 383 on on IN 384 387 the the DT 388 390 MV MV NNP 391 396 Pride Pride NNP 397 399 of of IN 400 405 South South NNP 406 409 off off IN 410 413 the the DT 414 420 island island NN 420 422 ’s 's POS 423 428 Point Point NNP 429 434 Pedro Pedro NNP 435 440 coast coast NN 440 441 , , , 442 450 ministry ministry NN 451 460 spokesman spokesman NN 461 467 Sanath Sanath NNP 468 479 Karunaratne Karunaratne NNP 480 484 said say VBD 484 485 . . . 492 494 He he PRP 495 499 said say VBD 500 504 navy navy NN 505 513 gunboats gunboat NNS 514 517 and and CC 518 528 helicopter helicopter NN 529 537 gunships gunship NNS 538 546 repulsed repulse VBD 547 550 the the DT 551 558 initial initial JJ 559 565 attack attack NN 566 569 and and CC 570 575 first first JJ 576 583 reports report NNS 584 593 indicated indicate VBD 594 596 at at IN 597 602 least least JJS 603 606 two two CD 607 612 rebel rebel NN 613 618 craft craft NN 619 622 had have VBD 623 627 been be VBN 628 633 blown blow VBN 634 637 out out IN 638 640 of of IN 641 644 the the DT 645 650 water water NN 650 651 . . . 652 657 There there EX 658 662 were be VBD 663 665 no no DT 666 675 immediate immediate JJ 676 683 reports report NNS 684 686 of of IN 687 697 casualties casualty NNS 697 698 . . . 705 713 Fighting fight VBG 714 723 continued continue VBD 724 727 two two CD 728 733 hours hour NNS 734 739 after after IN 740 743 the the DT 744 751 initial initial JJ 752 760 exchange exchange NN 761 763 of of IN 764 768 fire fire NN 769 771 in in IN 772 776 high high JJ 777 781 seas sea NNS 782 785 and and CC 786 789 the the DT 790 794 navy navy NN 795 798 had have VBD 799 805 called call VBN 806 808 in in RP 809 813 more more JJR 814 817 gun gun NN 818 823 ships ship NNS 824 826 to to TO 827 831 beat beat VB 832 836 back back RP 837 840 the the DT 841 851 guerrillas guerrilla NNS 851 852 , , , 853 864 Karunaratne Karunaratne NNP 865 869 said say VBD 869 870 . . . 877 878 “ `` `` 878 881 The the DT 882 886 ship ship NN 887 890 had have VBD 891 895 been be VBN 896 901 about about RB 902 904 26 26 CD 905 910 miles mile NNS 911 912 ( ( ( 912 914 42 42 CD 915 925 kilometres kilometre NNS 925 926 ) ) ) 927 931 away away RB 932 936 from from IN 937 942 Point Point NNP 943 948 Pedro Pedro NNP 949 953 when when WRB 954 957 the the DT 958 964 attack attack NN 965 972 started start VBD 972 973 , , , 973 974 ” '' '' 975 986 Karunaratne Karunaratne NNP 987 991 said say VBD 991 992 . . . 993 994 “ `` `` 994 999 There there EX 1000 1003 are be VBP 1004 1006 no no DT 1007 1017 casualties casualty NNS 1018 1023 among among IN 1024 1027 the the DT 1028 1036 security security NN 1037 1043 forces force NNS 1044 1046 at at IN 1047 1050 the the DT 1051 1057 moment moment NN 1057 1058 . . . 1058 1059 ” '' '' 1066 1068 He he PRP 1069 1073 said say VBD 1074 1077 the the DT 1078 1082 ship ship NN 1083 1086 was be VBD 1087 1088 a a DT 1089 1096 regular regular JJ 1097 1102 ferry ferry NN 1103 1115 transporting transport VBG 1116 1122 troops troop NNS 1123 1127 from from IN 1128 1131 the the DT 1132 1144 northeastern northeastern JJ 1145 1149 port port NN 1150 1152 of of IN 1153 1164 Trincomalee Trincomalee NNP 1165 1167 to to TO 1168 1171 the the DT 1172 1180 northern northern JJ 1181 1190 peninsula peninsula NN 1191 1193 of of IN 1194 1200 Jaffna Jaffna NNP 1200 1201 . . . 1202 1207 There there EX 1208 1212 were be VBD 1213 1218 1,200 1,200 CD 1219 1227 soldiers soldier NNS 1228 1234 aboard aboard IN 1235 1238 the the DT 1239 1244 ferry ferry NN 1244 1245 . . . 1252 1257 Hours hour NNS 1258 1264 before before IN 1265 1268 the the DT 1269 1274 ferry ferry NN 1275 1283 incident incident NN 1283 1284 , , , 1285 1286 a a DT 1287 1291 navy navy JJ 1292 1296 fast fast JJ 1297 1303 attack attack NN 1304 1309 craft craft NN 1310 1321 encountered encounter VBD 1322 1324 an an DT 1325 1340 explosive-laden explosive-laden JJ 1341 1345 boat boat NN 1346 1351 which which WDT 1352 1356 blew blow VBD 1357 1359 up up RP 1360 1362 in in IN 1363 1365 an an DT 1366 1374 apparent apparent JJ 1375 1380 Tamil Tamil NNP 1381 1386 Tiger Tiger NNP 1387 1394 suicide suicide NN 1395 1402 mission mission NN 1402 1403 , , , 1404 1415 Karunaratne Karunaratne NNP 1416 1420 said say VBD 1420 1421 . . . 1428 1431 The the DT 1432 1436 navy navy NN 1437 1442 craft craft NN 1443 1446 had have VBD 1447 1457 approached approach VBN 1458 1461 the the DT 1462 1467 small small JJ 1468 1472 boat boat NN 1473 1481 thinking think VBG 1482 1484 it it PRP 1485 1488 was be VBD 1489 1491 in in IN 1492 1500 distress distress NN 1501 1503 as as IN 1504 1506 an an DT 1507 1514 elderly elderly JJ 1515 1518 man man NN 1518 1519 , , , 1520 1521 a a DT 1522 1530 teenager teenager NN 1531 1534 and and CC 1535 1542 another another DT 1543 1549 person person NN 1550 1557 onboard onboard NN 1558 1561 had have VBD 1562 1565 put put VBN 1566 1568 up up RP 1569 1570 a a DT 1571 1576 white white JJ 1577 1581 flag flag NN 1581 1582 . . . 1589 1591 As as IN 1592 1594 it it PRP 1595 1601 neared near VBD 1602 1605 the the DT 1606 1610 boat boat NN 1610 1611 , , , 1612 1614 it it PRP 1615 1619 came come VBD 1620 1625 under under IN 1626 1632 attack attack NN 1632 1633 . . . 1634 1638 When when WRB 1639 1642 the the DT 1643 1647 navy navy NN 1648 1654 vessel vessel NN 1655 1665 retaliated retaliate VBN 1665 1666 , , , 1667 1670 the the DT 1671 1678 fishing fishing NN 1679 1683 boat boat NN 1684 1692 exploded explode VBD 1692 1693 . . . 1700 1701 “ `` `` 1701 1704 All all DT 1705 1710 three three CD 1711 1717 people people NNS 1718 1725 onboard onboard JJ 1726 1730 that that IN 1731 1735 boat boat NN 1736 1746 evaporated evaporate VBN 1746 1747 , , , 1748 1758 indicating indicate VBG 1759 1763 that that IN 1764 1766 it it PRP 1767 1770 was be VBD 1771 1777 packed pack VBN 1778 1782 with with IN 1783 1793 explosives explosive NNS 1794 1796 to to TO 1797 1800 ram ram VB 1801 1808 against against IN 1809 1812 the the DT 1813 1817 navy navy NN 1818 1822 fast fast JJ 1823 1829 attack attack NN 1830 1835 craft craft NN 1835 1836 , , , 1836 1837 ” '' '' 1838 1849 Karunaratne Karunaratne NNP 1850 1854 said say VBD 1854 1855 . . . 1862 1865 The the DT 1866 1870 navy navy NN 1871 1877 vessel vessel NN 1878 1885 escaped escape VBD 1886 1893 serious serious JJ 1894 1900 damage damage NN 1901 1903 or or CC 1904 1914 casualties casualty NNS 1914 1915 . . . 1922 1927 Tiger Tiger NNP 1928 1938 guerrillas guerrilla NNS 1938 1939 , , , 1940 1947 leading lead VBG 1948 1949 a a DT 1950 1958 campaign campaign NN 1959 1962 for for IN 1963 1965 an an DT 1966 1977 independent independent JJ 1978 1986 homeland homeland NN 1987 1989 in in IN 1990 1993 the the DT 1994 2000 island island NN 2000 2002 ’s 's POS 2003 2012 northeast northeast NN 2012 2013 , , , 2014 2018 have have VBP 2019 2026 carried carry VBN 2027 2030 out out RP 2031 2038 several several JJ 2039 2046 attacks attack NNS 2047 2054 against against IN 2055 2059 navy navy NN 2060 2063 and and CC 2064 2072 merchant merchant NN 2073 2078 ships ship NNS 2078 2079 , , , 2080 2089 including include VBG 2090 2095 using use VBG 2096 2101 boats boat NNS 2102 2110 carrying carry VBG 2111 2118 suicide suicide NN 2119 2126 bombers bomber NNS 2127 2129 on on IN 2130 2134 more more JJR 2135 2139 than than IN 2140 2141 a a DT 2142 2147 dozen dozen NN 2148 2153 naval naval JJ 2154 2159 craft craft NN 2159 2160 . . . 2167 2170 The the DT 2171 2175 LTTE LTTE NNP 2176 2182 staged stag VBD 2183 2184 a a DT 2185 2199 kamikaze-style kamikaze-style JJ 2200 2207 assault assault NN 2208 2210 on on IN 2211 2212 a a DT 2213 2221 merchant merchant NN 2222 2228 vessel vessel NN 2229 2231 in in IN 2232 2236 June June NNP 2237 2241 last last JJ 2242 2246 year year NN 2246 2247 . . . 2254 2256 An an DT 2257 2273 explosives-laden explosives-laden JJ 2274 2278 boat boat NN 2279 2285 rammed ram VBD 2286 2290 into into IN 2291 2294 the the DT 2295 2299 bulk bulk NN 2300 2305 cargo cargo NN 2306 2313 carrier carrier NN 2313 2314 , , , 2315 2317 MV MV NNP 2318 2323 Mercs Mercs NNP 2324 2329 Uhana Uhana NNP 2329 2330 , , , 2331 2333 as as IN 2334 2336 it it PRP 2337 2347 approached approach VBD 2348 2351 the the DT 2352 2358 Jaffna Jaffna NNP 2359 2368 peninsula peninsula NN 2369 2377 carrying carry VBG 2378 2382 food food NN 2383 2386 and and CC 2387 2392 other other JJ 2393 2403 essentials essential NNS 2404 2406 to to TO 2407 2410 the the DT 2411 2420 embattled embattled JJ 2421 2427 region region NN 2427 2428 . . . 2435 2445 Twenty-one twenty-one CD 2446 2453 crewmen crewman NNS 2454 2458 were be VBD 2459 2466 rescued rescue VBN 2466 2467 , , , 2468 2471 but but CC 2472 2479 another another DT 2480 2485 seven seven CD 2486 2490 went go VBD 2491 2498 missing miss VBG 2499 2504 after after IN 2505 2508 the the DT 2509 2515 attack attack NN 2515 2516 . . . 2523 2525 In in IN 2526 2535 September September NNP 2536 2540 1999 1999 CD 2540 2541 , , , 2542 2545 the the DT 2546 2549 Sri Sri NNP 2550 2556 Lankan Lankan NNP 2557 2561 navy navy NNP 2562 2568 fought fight VBD 2569 2574 Tiger Tiger NNP 2575 2580 rebel rebel NN 2581 2586 boats boat VBZ 2587 2590 off off IN 2591 2594 the the DT 2595 2601 island island NN 2601 2603 ’s 's POS 2604 2616 northeastern northeastern JJ 2617 2622 coast coast NN 2623 2625 to to TO 2626 2633 prevent prevent VB 2634 2637 the the DT 2638 2648 guerrillas guerrilla NNS 2649 2653 from from IN 2654 2661 seizing seize VBG 2662 2663 a a DT 2664 2671 Chinese chinese JJ 2672 2680 merchant merchant NN 2681 2687 vessel vessel NN 2687 2688 . . . 2695 2696 A a DT 2697 2702 Tiger Tiger NNP 2703 2711 flotilla flotilla NN 2712 2715 had have VBD 2716 2720 been be VBN 2721 2727 moving move VBG 2728 2735 towards towards IN 2736 2739 the the DT 2740 2752 14,000-tonne 14,000-tonne JJ 2753 2755 MV MV NNP 2756 2760 Yugi Yugi NNP 2761 2765 when when WRB 2766 2768 it it PRP 2769 2772 was be VBD 2773 2783 confronted confront VBN 2784 2786 by by IN 2787 2791 navy navy NN 2792 2795 gun gun NN 2796 2801 boats boat NNS 2801 2802 , , , 2803 2806 the the DT 2807 2814 defence defence NN 2815 2823 ministry ministry NN 2824 2828 said say VBD 2829 2831 at at IN 2832 2835 the the DT 2836 2840 time time NN 2840 2841 , , , 2842 2848 adding add VBG 2849 2853 that that IN 2854 2857 the the DT 2858 2860 32 32 CD 2861 2865 crew crew NN 2866 2873 members member NNS 2874 2877 had have VBD 2878 2881 not not RB 2882 2886 been be VBN 2887 2891 hurt hurt VBN 2891 2892 . . . 2899 2902 The the DT 2903 2909 Tigers Tigers NNP 2910 2912 in in IN 2913 2919 August August NNP 2920 2924 1997 1997 CD 2925 2931 seized seize VBD 2932 2935 the the DT 2936 2947 6,000-tonne 6,000-tonne JJ 2948 2950 MV MV NNP 2951 2959 Princess Princess NNP 2960 2964 Kash Kash NNP 2965 2968 off off IN 2969 2979 Mullaitivu Mullaitivu NNP 2979 2980 , , , 2981 2983 on on IN 2984 2987 the the DT 2988 3000 northeastern northeastern JJ 3001 3006 coast coast NN 3006 3007 , , , 3008 3013 while while IN 3014 3017 the the DT 3018 3024 vessel vessel NN 3025 3028 was be VBD 3029 3035 taking take VBG 3036 3044 supplies supply NNS 3045 3047 to to TO 3048 3055 private private JJ 3056 3063 traders trader NNS 3064 3066 in in IN 3067 3070 the the DT 3071 3077 Jaffna Jaffna NNP 3078 3087 peninsula peninsula NN 3087 3088 . . . 3095 3105 Government Government NNP 3106 3112 forces force NNS 3113 3115 as as RB 3116 3120 well well RB 3121 3123 as as IN 3124 3133 civilians civilian NNS 3134 3140 depend depend VBP 3141 3143 on on IN 3144 3145 a a DT 3146 3151 vital vital JJ 3152 3155 sea sea NN 3156 3161 route route NN 3162 3164 to to TO 3165 3171 Jaffna Jaffna NNP 3172 3174 to to TO 3175 3182 provide provide VB 3183 3187 them them PRP 3188 3192 with with IN 3193 3201 supplies supply NNS 3202 3207 since since IN 3208 3211 the the DT 3212 3216 land land NN 3217 3222 route route NN 3223 3225 is be VBZ 3226 3230 held hold VBN 3231 3233 by by IN 3234 3237 the the DT 3238 3243 Tiger Tiger NNP 3244 3250 rebels rebel NNS 3250 3251 . . . 3258 3266 Merchant merchant NN 3267 3274 vessels vessel NNS 3275 3279 have have VBP 3280 3284 been be VBN 3285 3291 warned warn VBN 3292 3294 to to TO 3295 3302 operate operate VB 3303 3310 several several JJ 3311 3316 miles mile NNS 3317 3320 off off IN 3321 3324 the the DT 3325 3330 coast coast NN 3331 3333 to to TO 3334 3341 prevent prevent VB 3342 3347 being be VBG 3348 3356 detected detect VBN 3357 3359 by by IN 3360 3366 rebels rebel NNS 3367 3372 along along IN 3373 3376 the the DT 3377 3389 northeastern northeastern JJ 3390 3398 seaboard seaboard NN 3398 3399 . . . 3400 3403 The the DT 3404 3408 navy navy NN 3409 3414 takes take VBZ 3415 3418 the the DT 3419 3423 same same JJ 3424 3429 route route NN 3430 3434 when when WRB 3435 3447 transporting transport VBG 3448 3455 weapons weapon NNS 3456 3459 and and CC 3460 3466 troops troop NNS 3467 3469 to to TO 3470 3476 Jaffna Jaffna NNP 3476 3477 . . .