Sri Lanka Navy boat

Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that there were hundreds of fishing trawlers which had reached Sri Lankan territorial waters north of Thalaimannar close to Iranathivu when this incident happened.

The Indian High Commission has been apprised of the incident and discussions are being held to take steps to avoid such situations in future,Minister Rambukwella said.

Minister Rambukwella said that investigations into the incident are continuing but he had not received information about seven missing soldiers following the incident.

He said Sri Lanka Airforce carried out two air raids in the Wanni district and the pilots had targetted LTTE co-ordinating office and an administrative office.

"If UNICEF compound was bombed it is something that has to be looked into", he said responding to a question.

UNICEF not affected

Zola Dowell, Head of Office, OCHA (UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assitance) said that they don't have any confrimation to say that air raids have damaged the UNICEF compound in Kilinochchi.

"I do know that there were air strikes in that area; close proximity to the UNICEF compound", she said.

Report from UNICEF office in Kilinochchi says that two civilians were injured. This has not been confirmed by security sources, Dowell added.