UNCONFIRMED REPORTS SAY THE LTTE CAME IN TWO LIGHT AIRCRAFT
AND ATTACKED KATUNAYAKA AIR FORCE BASE; 2 KILLED 17 INJURED

By Walter Jayawardhana

The Sri Lanka Airforce base at Katunayaka was attacked by combatants came in two light aircraft , unconfirmed reports from Colombo said.

Air force spokesman said the LTTE bombed the military airport from a light aircraft killing two airmen and wounding 17.

Air force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha de Silva said, “"A light Tiger aircraft flew over the air force base and dropped explosives. There have been two explosions. At the same time our air defences activated and there is a search operation going on."

For a long time intelligence services knew the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam possessed at least two air craft and they also had three airports in Wanni for the planes to take off.

This is the first time the LTTE has practiced bombing from an airplane.

The semi-official news network of the LTTE reported that the airport came under attack but did not say the attack was launched by the LTTE.

The Tamil Net said it happened at 1.30 p.m. March 26 Monday morning.
The Tamil Net said, “fighting is going inside the air base.”

The Police said that loud explosions have been heard from withing the Katunayaka military Air base.
Unconfirmed reports said two Air Force helicopters have been damaged in the attack.
This is the second attack on Katunayaka air force base by the LTTE and it was attacked by them in July 24 2001.

Colombo’s adjacent International Air Port temporarily put an hold on arrivals and departures although the civilian airport has not been affected