The Sri Lankan air force base near the Colombo International Airport was bombed by LTTE aircraft on Monday. Three Sri Lankan airmen were killed and many more were wounded in the predawn attack.
The so-called LTTE air force used two light aircraft in the attack.
Ths is the first time for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to deploy aircraft in a combat mission to attack a military base, LTTE spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said.
‘The mission was to destroy the Russian-made MiG and Israeli-made Kfir aircraft of the Sri Lankan air force’ said LTTE spokesman S.P. Tamilsevlan. Four bombs were dropped on the targe before the planes returned safely to their bases.
The Sri Lankan air force had used its fighter planes extensively in bombing LTTE targets as well as civilian areas which were suspected of harbouring the LTTE.
The LTTE is known to possess air capability since some time. It had constructed an airstrip well before 2005 in the Wanni area in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka which is under its control. The planes in its inventory are believed to be the Czech Aircraft ZLIN Z-143.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for a separate homeland for the Tamil minority in the north and east of the island. The areas are under its virtual control since many years though no international recognition has come its way so far.
While the LTTE doesn’t enjoy official recognition by any country, it also has the distinction of being the only major terrorist organiztion that is not targetted by the international community, so to say.
Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry spokesman Ravinatha Aryasinha said ‘There is no damage to the international airport or the runway.’ The airport was, however, closed temporarily as a precaution.
