The Presidential Secretariat issued on Friday the following statement relating to the bombing of the ship identified as "MV Princess Kash" off the Eastern Coast, South East of Mullaitiv, on Thursday.

The full text of the statement is as follows.

On Thursday, the 13th August at about 8.00 p.m. a ship identified as "MV Princess Kash" was sighted off the Eastern coast, 14 Nautical Miles (NM) South East of Mullaitivu. All ships travelling towards the North of the island are given specific, written instructions that they should keep a minimum of 50 NM from land, from point of departure to final destination, both ways. As the "MV Princess Kash" was not complying with these instructions, the Navy instructed the ship’s master to move away immediately from the coast, up to the stipulated distance of 50 NM.

In the first instance, they appeared to move away from the coast. However this morning, Friday the 14th of August at around 8.00 a.m. the ship was sighted again, anchored further up North, about 1/2 mile from the coast of Mullaitivu.

The Navy established communication with the "Princess Kash", with some difficulty and instructed the ship’s captain to move away as the said ship was present there against Naval instructions. No action was taken to comply with these instructions and the ship continued to remain in situ. This request was repeated over and over again from time to time from about 10.00 a.m. until 2.30 p.m. today (Thursday). When they failed to move away from the coast, the navy ordered the ship’s captain to move the ship or abandon it together with all crew. The Navy then fired warning shots in the direction of the ship. Shots were fired from "MV Princess Kash" at the Naval boats which were surrounding this ship by this time.

Missiles were also fired at the Sri Lankan Air Force air craft which were carrying out a surveillance of the ship’s movements. Air surveillance showed some movements, of small boats, suspected to be LTTE boats, around the Mullaitivu coast. Around 2.00 p.m. a considerable number of boats were seen moving to and from\, from the ship to the coast.

The Navy was instructed to move closer and observe the ship in question and the activities on board the ship. Heavy fire was directed at the Naval boats, at this time. The Naval vessels were instructed once again, to order all aboard to abandon ship. Around 30 minutes, were given for the ship’s crew to comply with the order.

The Air Force then took action to destroy the ship. During this period one Air Force K-Fir was fired at with surface to air missiles. The ship is reported to have had on board 21 crew members of several nationalities, including Sri Lankans. The ship’s cargo comprised of large quantities of restricted items, in addition to consumer goods.

The location of the ship and conduct of it’s captain gave sufficient cause for grave suspicion to the Defence authorities, that he was acting in connivance with the LTTE to transport and deliver dangerous merchandise to the LTTE.