Sri Lanka news columns

Air Force downs LTTE light aircraft: Ranil Wijayapala COLOMBO: Security Forces yesterday foiled a major attack targeting the radar system installed at the Air Force Base in Vavuniya bringing down one of the light aircraft of the LTTE on its way back to Mullaitivu and killing 10 Tiger cadres who tried to infiltrate the Air Force base from the ground, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said yesterday. Addressing a special press briefing at the Media Centre for National Security, Brigadier Nanayakkara said the LTTE launched this attack whilst firing barrages of artillery into the Army, Air Force and Police Head quarters complex in Vavuniya at 2.50 a.m. As artillery rounds fell into the Military and Police complex from 2.50 a.m., the LTTE simultaneously attempted to infiltrate into the SLAF Air Base where sophisticated radar systems are located. “The Special Forces and Air Force ground troops foiled the Tiger cadres’ attempt to...