Air Force downs LTTE light aircraft:
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 infiltrate into the Air Force base killing them outside the Air Force Base without allowing them to reach the Air Base. Ten Tiger bodies including five bodies of female cadres were recovered after the attempt was foiled,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added. The troops also recovered weapons and communications equipment along with the bodies.
The SLAF and the Army also thwarted an attempt by the LTTE light aircraft which came towards Vavuniya to drop bombs onto the radar system at the Air Force Base, after detecting them before reaching their target.See pictures on page 4
“The LTTE light aircraft dropped two bombs into the Army camp area and flew back without hitting the target due to stiff resistance from the SLAF and the Army,” the Brigadier added.
Brigadier Nanayakkara said Air Force interceptors airborne from the Katunayake Air Base successfully destroyed one of the lighter LTTE aircraft returning from Vavuniya towards Mullaitivu in the South of Mullaitivu at 3.55 a.m. According to Brigadier Nanayakkara , the LTTE continued to fire artillery rounds into the Military and Police complex till around 5.45 a.m. with 70 rounds of artillery rounds falling within the Wanni Security Forces headquarters area.
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“The barrages of artillery rounds fell into the Wanni SFHQ area resulting in the deaths of ten soldiers, one Policeman and a civilian. Fifteen soldiers, seven Air Force personnel and nine Policemen also sustained injuries in the artillery fire,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
The LTTE had directed artillery fire from North of Omanthai area, Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
“The radar system of the SLAF remains intact after this massive assault,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
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