The political and social situation in Sri Lanka is worsening day by day. The Tamil tigers or the LTTE have found a new style of attack by air marking a new dimension to the three-decade old conflict. By doing this, the LTTE has clearly violated Sri Lankan airspace and the tenets of international law.
This is the second time after the March attack that the LTTE has used air power to hit Sri Lankan targets and military base injuring at least six soldiers. A Sri Lankan army spokesman said that anti-aircraft batteries on the ground fired and forced one plane to turn away. Once the aircraft returned to Tiger-held areas, it dropped two bombs on the frontlines, wounding a number of soldiers.
The tigers’ military spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthiriyan, said that two aircraft flew over the Palaly military base and dropped bombs, targeting the runway and storage areas. Their pilots returned safely and reported that they were successful in their mission to hit the army base.
Palaly military base is the headquarter for operations against the rebels in the north. It also acts as the supply base for tens of thousands of soldiers stationed in the region.
The air attack comes at a time when both the sides have declared ceasefire officially. Yet, the attacks don’t seem to cease. It was already suspected that the LTTE was planning air attacks on the military bases to support ground forces and naval wing. As per reports, the Tigers have two to five aircrafts.
The current scenario does not show any signs of peace in the country which has tasted enough blood. Violence swell after the 2005 election of President Mahinda Rajapakse and it has claimed over 4,000 lives since then.
The attack on the airbase seems to have boosted the confidence of the Tigers to take on and even subjugate the Sri Lankan Air Force. And it has not only put Sri Lankan government on tenterhooks but also forced the Indian government to devote greater attention to the unfolding events in Sri Lanka.
It has also brought to light the continuing vulnerability of the Sri Lankan government and also of the Sinhala population to continued attacks by the LTTE. Colombo needs to gear up its security, surveillance and intelligence apparatuses to cater to this grave threat that seems to have given an upper hand to the LTTE.
Via: BBC
