Forces repulse attack on Vavuniya security complex
Air Force downs LTTE light aircraft:
Ranil Wijayapala
COLOMBO: Security Forces yesterday foiled a major attack
targeting the radar system installed at the Air Force Base in Vavuniya
bringing down one of the light aircraft of the LTTE on its way back to
Mullaitivu and killing 10 Tiger cadres who tried to infiltrate the Air
Force base from the ground, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya
Nanayakkara said yesterday.
Addressing a special press briefing at the Media Centre for National
Security, Brigadier Nanayakkara said the LTTE launched this attack
whilst firing barrages of artillery into the Army, Air Force and Police
Head quarters complex in Vavuniya at 2.50 a.m. As artillery rounds fell
into the Military and Police complex from 2.50 a.m., the LTTE
simultaneously attempted to infiltrate into the SLAF Air Base where
sophisticated radar systems are located.
“The Special Forces and Air Force ground troops foiled the Tiger
cadres’ attempt to infiltrate into the Air Force base killing them
outside the Air Force Base without allowing them to reach the Air Base.
Ten Tiger bodies including five bodies of female cadres were recovered
after the attempt was foiled,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added. The troops
also recovered weapons and communications equipment along with the
bodies.
The SLAF and the Army also thwarted an attempt by the LTTE light
aircraft which came towards Vavuniya to drop bombs onto the radar system
at the Air Force Base, after detecting them before reaching their
target.See pictures on page 4
“The LTTE light aircraft dropped two bombs into the Army camp area
and flew back without hitting the target due to stiff resistance from
the SLAF and the Army,” the Brigadier added.
Brigadier Nanayakkara said Air Force interceptors airborne from the
Katunayake Air Base successfully destroyed one of the lighter LTTE
aircraft returning from Vavuniya towards Mullaitivu in the South of
Mullaitivu at 3.55 a.m. According to Brigadier Nanayakkara , the LTTE
continued to fire artillery rounds into the Military and Police complex
till around 5.45 a.m. with 70 rounds of artillery rounds falling within
the Wanni Security Forces headquarters area.
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The Security Forces successfully repulsed the LTTE attempt
to infiltrate the Air Force base and the Special Forces
Headquarters in Vavuniya. Here arms, ammunition and GPS
equipment found by the Security Forces after a search
operation. |
“The barrages of artillery rounds fell into the Wanni SFHQ area
resulting in the deaths of ten soldiers, one Policeman and a civilian.
Fifteen soldiers, seven Air Force personnel and nine Policemen also
sustained injuries in the artillery fire,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
The LTTE had directed artillery fire from North of Omanthai area,
Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
“The radar system of the SLAF remains intact after this massive
assault,” Brigadier Nanayakkara added.
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