Sri Lanka news columns

The Air Force operations room was busy from 3.30 a.m. onwards yesterday as it continued to communicate with the Vavuniya Air base because the Vavuniya Security Forces headquarters was subject to an artillery attack between 3.00 a.m. and 3.26 a.m. Vavuniya Air Force base officers who operate the radar had detected two LTTE Zlin 143 aircraft on their screens. They had immediately informed Director Operations Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama, who in turn had informed the Commanding Officer of Squadron 5 which comprised F 7 fighter jets. Early yesterday morning, as is normal routine, a young energetic pilot was seated in his F7 fighter jet cockpit. Pilots of F7 fighter jets are on standby, on the instructions of Air Force Commander Air Vice Marshal Roshan Goonetillake. Pilots are allocated for standby duty on a roster basis. On receipt of information, the 5 Squadron Commanding Officer immediately relayed instructions to his pilot in the F7 fighter jet which took off at 3.34 a.m. from the Ka...