MV Uhana

Last updated August 16, 2024

MV Uhana was a Sri Lankan merchant vessel that was subjected to a suicide attack in June 2000 while being escorted to Jaffna by the Sri Lankan Navy.^[1]^[2]^[3]^[4]^[5] A speedboat loaded with explosives positioned itself next to the Sri Lankan vessel, near Point Pedro, before blowing itself up. According to Rohitha Bogollagama, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, the Tamil Tigers were behind the attack. He compared the attack on the Uhana to al Qaeda's attack on the USS Cole, four months later. He suggested that al Qaeda and the Tamil Tigers learned techniques from one another.

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References

↑ Rohitha Bogollagama (May 31, 2008). "How Successful is Counter Terrorism in the Asia-Pacific? - Sri Lanka's Experience". Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-02. The precision targeting and execution of the attack by the terrorists on the hull of the vessel by Al-Qaeda operatives was almost identical to the mode of attack conducted by the LTTE's sea Tigers. One could discern from the similarity of attacks that there would have been a transfer of knowledge and expertise in the field of maritime terrorism.
↑ Martin N. Murphy (2009). "Small boats, weak states, dirty money: the challenge of piracy". Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231700764 . Retrieved 2013-01-25. Several ships, such as the MV Mercs Uhana in 2000, have been attacked or hijacked off Point Pedro and might have been delivering supplies to the SLA garrisons on the Jaffna Peninsula.
↑ "Country reports on human rights practices: report submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in accordance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign ..., Volume 2; Volumes 8-15". United States General Publishing Office. 2000. Retrieved 2013-01-25. On June 26, an LTTE suicide boat rammed the M.V. Mercs Uhana, a civilian transport ship carrying food and other supplies to Jaffna
↑ "Arms ship destroyed - LTTE". www.tamileelamnews.com. 2000-06-26. Retrieved 2013-01-25. The MV Merces Uhana, a cargo vessel destroyed off the Jaffna coast by the Sea Tigers in a naval battle Monday, was carrying arms and ammunition, the Liberation Tigers said in a statement from their London offices.
↑ "Tigers strike again in suicide bombing". Independent Online. 2000-06-26. Retrieved 2013-01-25. They said the ship was badly damaged after the attack, but all 21 crew were rescued. Official sources said the ship was carrying a cargo of food for private traders in the Jaffna peninsula.

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[Ronitha20080531-1] Rohitha Bogollagama (May 31, 2008). "How Successful is Counter Terrorism in the Asia-Pacific? - Sri Lanka's Experience". Archived from the original on June 3, 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-02. The precision targeting and execution of the attack by the terrorists on the hull of the vessel by Al-Qaeda operatives was almost identical to the mode of attack conducted by the LTTE's sea Tigers. One could discern from the similarity of attacks that there would have been a transfer of knowledge and expertise in the field of maritime terrorism.

[2] Martin N. Murphy (2009). "Small boats, weak states, dirty money: the challenge of piracy". Columbia University Press. ISBN 9780231700764 . Retrieved 2013-01-25. Several ships, such as the MV Mercs Uhana in 2000, have been attacked or hijacked off Point Pedro and might have been delivering supplies to the SLA garrisons on the Jaffna Peninsula.

[3] "Country reports on human rights practices: report submitted to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, U.S. House of Representatives and Committee on Foreign Relations, U.S. Senate by the Department of State in accordance with sections 116(d) and 502B(b) of the Foreign ..., Volume 2; Volumes 8-15". United States General Publishing Office. 2000. Retrieved 2013-01-25. On June 26, an LTTE suicide boat rammed the M.V. Mercs Uhana, a civilian transport ship carrying food and other supplies to Jaffna

[4] "Arms ship destroyed - LTTE". www.tamileelamnews.com. 2000-06-26. Retrieved 2013-01-25. The MV Merces Uhana, a cargo vessel destroyed off the Jaffna coast by the Sea Tigers in a naval battle Monday, was carrying arms and ammunition, the Liberation Tigers said in a statement from their London offices.

[5] "Tigers strike again in suicide bombing". Independent Online. 2000-06-26. Retrieved 2013-01-25. They said the ship was badly damaged after the attack, but all 21 crew were rescued. Official sources said the ship was carrying a cargo of food for private traders in the Jaffna peninsula.

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