Sri Lanka main Air base was bombed by
tiny LTTE "airforce" on Monday and now initial investigation report
is out...
Sri
Lanka: Faulty radar helped Tamil Eelam Air
Force?
...
Initial investigations revealed that the first generation radar
installed by India failed to detect the incoming aircraft until the
radar at the adjacent Bandaranaike International Airport identified
them.
"The detection was made as the aircraft were about 3 kms off the
airbase," a senior defence official said.
Had the SLAF radar spotted the intruders, the outcome of Mondays
encounter would have been different, he said.
Before the detection by BIA radar, the SLAF had received
information about the LTTE aircraft crossing the
northern-line-of-control through ground based sources. But the
intended target was not specified until the BIA radar picked the
enemy craft approaching the airbase.
The government on Monday discussed ways and means of meeting the
new threat. The Island learns that that the government raised the
issue with the Indian High Commission on Monday. Sri Lankan
officials are believed to have explained the urgent need to fully
activate the existing system.
Although three of the four radars promised by India are in place,
there are believed to be operational problems. The fourth is likely
to be installed in the northern theatre. Sri Lanka wants India to
fully activate the system on a priority basis.
India stepped in with an offer to establish a radar network after
President Chandrika Kumaratungas government initiated talks with
China to acquire a 3D radar system. Former Indian High Commissioner
Nirupama Rao, currently New Delhis top envoy is believed to have
initiated the move on behalf of her government as India had
national security concerns.
The Island learns that President Mahinda Rajapakse is likely to
seek a meeting with Raos successor Alok Prasad in this regard. The
unprecedented attack has prompted the government to review the
existing counter measures on a priority basis.
President Rajapakse called an urgent meeting with political party
leaders to brief them of the current situation.
Although the LTTE scored a huge propaganda victory, LTTE aircraft
failed to hit the intended targets-Israeli built Kfirs and
Ukrainian MIG 27s. SLAF headquarters said that two of the three
bombs dropped by the LTTE exploded causing damages to three
buildings.
Pro-LTTE TamilNet quoted unnamed airmen as saying that several SLAF
jet bombers were put out of action by fierce fires which broke out
in the hangars struck by the LTTE aircraft. Up to 40% of the SLAFs
strike capability has been knocked out, the website reported.
SLAF headquarters yesterday emphasised that the LTTE attack did not
dent its strike capability. "All Kfirs and the newly acquired MIG
27s are safe," an official said. "They missed their targets," he
said, adding, "We would continue to take targets depending on the
requirement."
Kfirs and MIG 27s launched from Katunayake engaged five LTTE
targets on Monday afternoon and yesterday.
Aircraft targeted LTTE positions north of Mannar, Mullaitivu,
Kanagarayankulam and South of Thoppigala. The SLAF said that an
LTTE intelligence base and a Sea Tiger facility were among the
targets taken.
A senior government official yesterday contradicted B. Raman,
former head of Research and Analysis Wing who claimed that the LTTE
air wing had been in existence for nine years without the Sri
Lankan intelligence having the least idea about its location and
capability.
Raman, a former Additional Secretary of the Cabinet of India made
the declaration hours after the terrorist attack. Sri Lankan
sources pointed out the absurdity in Ramans assertion. He
conveniently ignored that India installed radars after Sri Lanka
sought to deploy an advanced Chinese early warning system.
The sources emphasized that Sri Lanka sought the Chinese help after
obtaining credible information about the existence of the LTTE air
wing. The sources revealed that Sri Lanka also briefed permanent
members of the UN Security Council plus India of the growing threat
posed by the LTTE air wing in early 2005. In fact, a comprehensive
dossier which included even a short footage obtained by Unmanned
Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) of the LTTE assets was made available to
the big five-US, Russia, China, UK and France and India. The
sources said that this was done at the highest level as Foreign
Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar correctly assessed the threat.
According to a senior official Sri Lankas action was in line with
US Security Council Resolution 1373.
In the wake of the 11 September 2001 Al Qaeda attack in the US, the
UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 1373, which,
among its provisions, obliges all States to criminalize assistance
for terrorist activities, deny financial support and safe haven to
terrorists and share information about groups planning terrorist
attacks.
The 15-member Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) was established at
the same time to monitor implementation of the resolution. While
the ultimate aim of the Committee is to increase the ability of
States to fight terrorism, it is not a sanctions body nor does it
maintain a list of terrorist organizations or individuals.
Sri Lanka believes that LTTE is in pocession of a few aircraft
possibly Pilatus PC-7, Pilatus PC-21 and Zlin Z 143. The sources
said that India was the first to receive the dossier on the LTTE
attempts to build an air wing.
