Separate probes into attack

No damage to fighter fleet :

Ranil Wijayapala

KATUNAYAKE: The Air Force and the Criminal Investigations Department yesterday launched two separate investigations into the pre-dawn LTTE attack on the Air Force Base in Katunayake, Information and Media Minister Anura Priyadarshana Yapa said yesterday.

Addressing the media yesterday in Colombo the Minister said a five member team headed by Air Force Chief of Staff Air Vice Marshal P.B. Premachandra has been appointed to probe into the incident. Three Air Force personnel were killed and 16 others injured when three bombs were dropped from a light aircraft over the Katunayake Air Force Base around 12.45 am yesterday.

According to Air Force officials no harm has been caused to the fighter squadron of the Air Force in this attack. Operations at the Bandaranaike International Airport, which is located next to the Air Force Base came to halt for a few hours in the midst of uncertainty of what was happening at the Air Force Base.

Minister Yapa said the operations at the international airport returned to normal a few hours after the air attack on the adjoining Air Base. "There is no reason to panic since there is no damage to the international airport due to this attack," he added.

Minister Yapa said the committee appointed by the Air Force will come out with its preliminary report within the next few days after their initial investigations into the incident.

There was speculation that the air defence system had not effectively functioned to detect the light aircraft of the LTTE. However, the Minister said it has been confirmed that the Air Force had effectively foiled the LTTE air attack on the Air Force base preventing them from attacking the MiG and Kfir hangars at the Air Force base.

"Only an investigation can reveal whether there were lapses and deficiencies on the part of the Air Force," he said, adding that it was premature to comment on the incident. The Minister said that the Air Force was fully prepared for such an attack. They were able to avert a disaster as they promptly reacted to the situation compelling the LTTE to go away without achieving their goal.

"They have tried to attack the fighter hangar of the Air Force base but failed in their endeavour," the Minister pointed out.

He said the LTTE light aircraft dropped three bombs on the Air Force base of which two exploded causing damage to three buildings and killing three Air Force personnel and injuring 16 others.

Air Force Spokesman Group Captain Ajantha Silva said there was no dent made in the combat fleet of the Air Force and they will continue with their usual operations unaffected by this incident.