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by Ranga Jayasuriya

The LTTE yesterday complained to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) against low flying unmanned Air Force aircraft in uncleared areas.

But the Air Force defended its action on the basis that the Ceasefire Agreement enables the Security Forces to continue defending the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

According to article 1.3 of the Ceasefire Agreement, "the Sri Lankan armed forces shall continue to perform their legitimate task of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka without engaging in offensive operations against the LTTE".

"The LTTE complained that unmanned Air Force aircraft have hovered over Pallai during the weekend," SLMM Deputy Head Hagrup Haukland told the Daily News.

The LTTE claimed that civilians have been terrified by the low flying aircraft, Haukland said, adding that the Government has been informed of the LTTE complaint. The Air Force has justified the low flying pointing to Article 1.3 of the Ceasefire Agreement.Haukland however said that such activities are "not in keeping with the spirit of the Ceasefire Agreement".

The SLMM said it was investigating an Army complaint against some 60 armed LTTE cadres crossing the Main Supply Route (MSR) on August 27 in the East violating the Ceasefire Agreement.

Haukland said the LTTE was informed of the complaint adding that "if the complaint is true it is a serious breach of the Ceasefire agreement".

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