Katunayake Military Airbase
Bombed by LTTE Air Wing

25 March 2007
[see also Liberation Tigers launch combined air, ground attack on Anuradhapura air base - 8 SLAF aircraft destroyed, 22 October 2007]

Air-Tigers attack Katunayake military airbase - TamilNet

Mr. Irasaiah Ilanthirayan Military Spokesperson of the Tigers said: "The attack is not only pre-emptive but also to safeguard our people from indiscriminate bombing by the SLAF." more

உண்மைகள் ஒருபோதும் உறங்குவதில்லை, உறங்கவும் கூடா...
Vaharai	Trincomalee	Muthur	Killinochchi	Vallipunam	Padahuthurai

கட்டுநாயக்க  வான்படைத் தளம் மீது வான்புலிகள் தாக்குதல் - Thinakural

கட்டுநாயக்க வான்படைத் தளம் மீதான தாக்குதல் -தினக்குரல் ஆசிரியர் பாரதி வழங்கிய தகவல்கள்

Liberation Tigers credit the formation of the Tiger air-wing to Colonel Shankar

புலிகளின் குரலில் ஒலிபரப்பாகிய செய்திவீச்சு, 26 March 2007

Australian Foreign Affairs Department Warning Against Travel to Sri Lanka, 26 March 2007

Lankan war started by President Rajapakse with the help of Pakistan has entered a new phase - B.Raman in Rediffusion, 26 March 2007 

"..Two aircraft of the TAF flew over the Sri Lankan Air Force base at Katunayake near Colombo and dropped four bombs. At least three SLAF personnel were killed and about 20 injured. Two helicopters, reportedly given by Pakistan, were badly damaged. There was also some damage to the Israeli aircraft of the Sri Lankan Air Force..."  more

Tamil Tigers unveil latest tactic - BBC

"Whatever you may think of their goals and methods, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have always been innovative. Experts say the technology was rudimentary but effective. It was they who refined the suicide bomber, and used them to devastating effect. And what other insurgent groups can boast a naval wing? The rebels have boats armed with guns, known as the Sea Tigers. Now they have confirmed what Sri Lanka's government had suspected for a long time - they have an air capability too."

அவலத்தின் ஊடாக ஓர் அரசியல் நகர்வும், விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் விமானத் தாக்குதலும்! - Sanmugam Sabesan, 26 March 2007

Sri Lanka blackout on Air Force losses

"Sri Lanka’s President held an emergency meeting of the country’s security leadership Monday as the government imposed a total blackout on the Liberation Tigers' bombing raid on Katunayake, the island’s main airbase in the early hours. Whilst the government says only two helicopter gunships were slightly damaged, airmen coming off duty told reporters in Colombo 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 SLAF’s strike capability has been knocked out, they said."

LTTE Air Raid on Katunayake Air Base - Col R Hariharan  together with comments by tamilnation.org and a response by Jayantha Gnanakone, USA, 26 March 2007

வான் புலிகள் தாக்குதல்.. மட்டற்ற மகிழ்ச்சியைத் தருகிறது  - பழ. நெடுமாறன் அறிக்கை

LTTE Air Strike - An Assessment - B.Raman, South Asia Analysis Group (SAAG), 27 March 2007

"The TAF's [Tamileelam Air Force's] air strike was well-planned and equally well-executed. It was a night operation taking advantage of the weak capability of the SLAF for night operations. It was a precision attack, which carefully avoided causing any casualty or damage in the international airport, which could have roused international ire. There were no civilian casualties----targeted or collateral. As a result, it would not be possible to characterise the attack as an act of terrorism. It was pure and simple a conventional air strike." more

On to Tamil Eelam: From Bicycle to Aircraft - M.R. Narayan Swamy, TCNR, 27 March 2007

கட்டுநாயக்க வான்படைத் தளம் மீதான தாக்குதல் தொடர்பாக பிரபல இராணுவ ஆய்வாளர் இக்பால் அத்தாஸ் தமிழ்நாதம்  இணையத் தளத்துக்கு வழங்கிய சிறப்பு நேர்காணல் 28 March 2007

விமானத்தாக்குதலை புலிகளின் தலைவர் பிரபாகரனின் புதல்வரே வழிநடத்தியுள்ளார்? - வீரகேசரி நாளேடு, 29 March 2007

[see also Katunayake Airport Attacked - Six Years Ago, 24 July 2001]

 

Two attack air-crafts belonging to Liberation Tigers carried out bombing raids at the Sri Lanka Air Force airbase at Katunayake at 12:45 a.m. early morning Monday, 26 March 2007 and returned safely to Vanni, military spokesperson of the LTTE, Irasaiah Ilanthiraiyan told TamilNet. The targets for the air attack were the SLAF's Kfir and MiG-27 hangars at the military base located adjoining the Katunayake International Airport (KIA), Ilanthiraiyan said. Meanwhile, military officials in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo said 3 Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) personnel were killed and 15 wounded in the attack. The injured have been rushed to Negombo hospital from the military airbase, medical sources said.

Katunayake International Airport (KIA) did not suffer any damages, according to military sources. Chandana de Silva, Communication's Director for 'Srilankan,' Sri Lanka's flagship passenger air-liner, said that the International Airport is shut and all 'Srilankan' flights have been diverted to an air-port in a South Indian state. Immediate areas surrounding the air-port and the adjoining SLAF airbase have been cordoned off, according to local residents.

Following the first major aerial attack by the Tigers, Mr. Irasaiah Ilanthirayan Military Spokesperson of the Tigers said: "The attack is not only pre-emptive but also to safeguard our people from indiscriminate bombing by the SLAF."

Ilanthirayan added "Other Sri Lanka military installations will also be targets of our future attacks.Two aircrafts of Tamileealm Air Force (TAF) with air to surface capability participated in the sortie"

Unconfirmed reports from Colombo said Air-port taxi drivers have seen at least two parachutes above the airbase.The attack occurs amid speculations of an imminent offensive of Sri Lankan military into the northern theatre.

In an earlier predawn attack on the Katunayake air base, about 24 km north of Colombo, on 24 July 2001, LTTE cadres infiltrated the air base and destroyed thirteen air crafts including two Kfir jet fighters, one MI-24 Helicopter gun ship and one MIG-27- jet fighter.

No civilians were injured or killed in the 2001 attack.

Military offensives by Sri Lankan armed forces in the NorthEast, since the outbreak of violence in August 2006, have been dominated by air-attacks by SLAF. Attack air-crafts have been inflicting heavy civilian casualties and damages to civilian property.

கட்டுநாயக்க வான்படைத் தளம் மீது வான்புலிகள் தாக்குதல் - [திங்கட்கிழமை, 26 மார்ச் 2007, 01:42 ஈழம்] [காவலூர் கவிதன்] , Thinakural

சிறிலங்கா கட்டுநாயக்க வான்படைத் தளம் மீது வான்புலிகளின் இரு வானூர்திகள் இன்று திங்கட்கிழமை அதிகாலை 12.45 மணியளவில் தாக்குதல்களை நடத்திவிட்டு பாதுகாப்பாக வன்னி படைத்தளத்திற்கு திரும்பிவிட்டதாக தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகள் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர்.

வான் படையினரின் கிபீர் மற்றும் மிக் ரக வானூர்திகளின் தரிப்பிடங்களே வான் புலிகளின் தாக்குதல் இலக்குகளாக இருந்ததாகவும், இதில் கிபீர் மற்றும் மிக் ரக வானூர்திகளுக்கு பெரும் அழிவுகள் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளதாகவும், எதிர்காலத்தில் படையினரின் கேந்திர நிலையங்களின் மீது இவ்வகையான தாக்குதல்கள் நடத்தப்படும் எனவும் விடுதலைப் புலிகள் மேலும் தெரிவித்தனர்.

சிறிலங்கா வான்படையைச் சேர்ந்த 12 பேர் காயமடைந்த நிலையில் நீர்கொழும்பு மருத்துவமனைக்கு கொண்டு வரப்பட்டிருப்பதாக மருத்துவமனை வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

மூவர் கொல்லப்பட்டுள்ளதுடன் 16 பேர் காயமடைந்துள்ளனர் என்று சிறிலங்கா வான்படைப் பேச்சாளர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

வான் படைத்தளம் பகுதி ஒரே புகைமண்டலமாக காட்சியளிப்பதாக அப்பகுதி தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

தாக்குதலைத் தொடர்ந்து அனைத்து வானூர்தி சேவைகளும் இரத்துச் செய்யப்பட்டு, யாரும் உள்ளே அனுமதிக்கப்படவில்லை என்பதுடன், அங்கிருந்தும் யாரும் வெளியேறவும் அனுமதிக்கப்படவில்லை.

வானூர்தி நிலையத்துக்கான அனைத்துப் பாதைகளும் பாதுகாப்புக் காரணங்களுக்காக மூடப்பட்டு அப்பகுதிக்கு மேலதிக படையினர் வரவழைக்கப்பட்டு தேடுதல் வேட்டை நடத்தப்படுவதாகவும், விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் வானூர்திகளை தமது வான்படை தேடி வருவதாகவும் சிறிலங்கா வான்படையின் பேச்சாளர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

தாக்குதல் ஆரம்பித்தவுடன் தமது வானூர்தி எதிர்ப்புச் சாதனங்கள் இயங்கியதாகவும் வான்படையின் பேச்சாளர் மேலும் தெரிவித்தார்.

சிறிலங்காவை நோக்கி வரும் வானூர்திகள் அனைத்தும் இந்தியாவின் தமிழ்நாட்டின் சென்னை வானூர்தி நிலையத்துக்கு திருப்பி விடப்படுவதாகவும், இன்று காலை 8.30 மணிவரை வானூர்தி சேவைகள் அனைத்தும் இரத்துச் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளதாக தெரிவிக்கப்படுகின்றது.

தாக்குதல் தொடங்கிய பின்னர் வானூர்தி நிலையத்தில் உள்ள பயணிகள் பாதுகாப்பான இடங்களுக்கு அப்புறப்படுத்தப்பட்டதாகவும், இத்தாக்குதலில் இரு உலங்கு வானூர்திகளும் வானூர்திகள் தரித்து வைக்கப்படும் இடம் ஒன்றும் சேதமடைந்துள்ளதாக அனைத்துலக ஊடக நிறுவனம் தெரிவிக்கின்றது.

வானூர்திகளின் தாக்குதல்கள் தொடரும் என விடுதலைப் புலிகள் எச்சரிக்கை விடுத்ததனைத் தொடர்ந்து கொழும்பின் சகல பகுதிகளிலும் இரவு நேரங்களில் மின்விளக்குகளை எரிய விடவேண்டாம் என்று பொதுமக்களுக்கு சிறிலங்கா வான்படையினர் அறிவுறுத்தியிருக்கின்றனர்.

Liberation Tigers credit the formation of the Tiger air-wing (Vaanpuligal) to Colonel Shankar alias Vythialingam Sornalingam, an old boy of Hartley College, Point Pedro. He was an aeronautical engineer with Air Canada, with an Engineering Degree in Aeronautics from Hindustan Engineering College in Tamil Nadu. Shankar was the chief of the 'Air Tigers' and was responsible for developing the air wing from its infancy until his assassination in December 2001.

While reputed military analysts speculated on the LTTE use of air-craft limited to self-destroy missions, Tigers have surprised them by using locally designed payload carrying mechanisms, and automatic ammunition discharge circuitry, and demonstrated capability to fly night missions. Tigers have not disclosed the type and number of light-wing air crafts in their possession. However, Tigers have succeeded in using locally made fixtures attached to air-craft frame to allow automatic weapon discharge, under pilot control, of four gravity bombs. The bombs appear to be 45-50 inch long and 10-12" diameter at the middle of the body, and fitted with a tail section with six fins to improve stability during its ballistic trajectory towards the target.

After initial acknowledgement by Liberation Tigers that they were involved in building an air-wing in November 1998, Tigers were ambiguous in their response in September 2006 when there was speculation that a Tiger air-craft fired rockets at the Palaly Airforce base.

Runway in Iranaimadu, inside Liberation Tigers controlled Vanni, which is clearly visible in Satellite images, was a contentious issue between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE during the period after the signing of CeaseFire Agreement in 2002.

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfirs ran bombing raids dropping bombs on Iranaimadu runway, but LTTE said the damages have been repaired and the runway is usable. However, it is not clear if the LTTE air-crafts that bombed the SLAF military base in Katunayake used the Iranaimade runway for takeoff and landing. LTTE reserved comment on this matter.

"Attacks could occur at any time, anywhere in Sri Lanka.

"Australians could inadvertently become victims of violence directed at others, in particular Sri Lankan government and military targets."
 

"The Tamil Eelam Air Force of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which has been in existence for at least nine years without the Sri Lankan intelligence having the least idea about its location and capability, went into action for the first time since its creation in the early hours of March 26. It was a conventional air attack and not a suicide mission.

Two aircraft of the TAF flew over the Sri Lankan Air Force base at Katunayake near Colombo and dropped four bombs. At least three SLAF personnel were killed and about 20 injured. Two helicopters, reportedly given by Pakistan, were badly damaged. There was also some damage to the Israeli aircraft of the Sri Lankan Air Force.

The LTTE has claimed that both its planes returned safely to base and has released a photograph of Prabakaran with the officers of the TAF. It is reported that the approach of an unidentified aircraft towards the base was detected by the Sri Lankan Air Force radar, but the anti-aircraft units at the base failed to go into action. The SLAF pilots' capability for night operations is poor and the Air Tigers took advantage of this to fly over the base unintercepted and bomb it.... The war against the LTTE started by President Mahinda Rajapakse after assuming office in November, 2005, with the help of Pakistan, has now entered a new phase. "  more

"Whatever you may think of their goals and methods, Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have always been innovative. Experts say the technology was rudimentary but effective. It was they who refined the suicide bomber, and used them to devastating effect. And what other insurgent groups can boast a naval wing? The rebels have boats armed with guns, known as the Sea Tigers. Now they have confirmed what Sri Lanka's government had suspected for a long time - they have an air capability too.

The first mission of what the rebels are calling the Tamil Eelam Air Force, or TAF, took place overnight. Two light aircraft - according to the government it might have been one - set off, presumably from a jungle airstrip in the north of the country, and flew south.

If they were detected they were not stopped. Their target was the air force base at Katanayake, north of the capital. They flew overhead and dropped several bombs, killing three airmen on the ground and wounding many more. They also terrified passengers waiting for flights at the nearby international airport, some of whom described panic and chaos as people ran for cover amid the sound of explosions.

As the air base echoed with the sound of machine gun fire the light aircraft turned around and flew back home. The rebels have released photographs of the plane they said was responsible. Pilots are shown wearing pale blue Tiger striped uniforms, in one shot grouped around the elusive rebel leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran.

There is no shot showing the entire aircraft, but it is plainly of fairly simple construction. One picture shows four bombs mounted underneath the fuselage. "It's a very basic system they seem to have put on their aircraft, very hit and miss," said one foreign defence expert based in Colombo. "It's interesting though, a bold effort. To fly down at night and get back is quite a message to send. It's very Biggles."  more

Sri Lanka’s President held an emergency meeting of the country’s security leadership Monday as the government imposed a total blackout on the Liberation Tigers' bombing raid on Katunayake, the island’s main airbase in the early hours. Whilst the government says only two helicopter gunships were slightly damaged, airmen coming off duty told reporters in Colombo 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 SLAF’s strike capability has been knocked out, they said.

Residents near the airbase which shares a runway with the island’s sole international airport said security had been greatly increased in the area.

During the day Monday journalists were kept away from the airbase by heavily armed air force troops who searched surrounding areas with dogs.

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) officials who attempted to visit the Air Force base Monday to initiate inquiries into the attack were refused access to the site by top Air Force officials, an SLMM spokesman told the Daily Mirror.

SLMM spokesman Thorfinur Omarsson said the monitors however managed to visit the injured at the Negombo hospital and would make another attempt to visit the air base Tuesday stressing it was important that access is granted for the monitors to rule on the incident.

Meanwhile, only two propeller-driven Pucara ground attack aircraft and a seaplane took off from Katunayake all day Monday.

A significant section of the SLAF’s jet bomber fleet, including several Israeli-made Kfirs are based at Katunayake.

At least six Kfirs were housed in the hangers bombed by two LTTE aircraft in the early hours Monday.

The LTTE bombs had triggered fires and secondary explosions in the hangars, airmen who came off duty Monday told reporters.

The Sri Lankan government has played down the attack saying only two bombs dropped by the LTTE aircraft exploded.

But several press reports in the early hours quoted residents being woken by at least four loud blasts followed by gunfire.

Tourists in the international terminal speaking to international agencies also reported a series of loud explosions amid gunfire.

In an analysis comment for rediff.com, B. Raman, a former counter-terrorism chief of India’s intelligence service, RAW, said that the LTTE airstrike had damaged or destroyed several aircraft. “Two helicopters, reportedly given by Pakistan, were badly damaged. There was also some damage to the Israeli aircraft of the Sri Lankan Air Force,” he wrote.

The bombing raid by two LTTE aircraft coincided with a Gala musical function being held by Sri Pagnananda Maha Vidyalaya school, located 2 km west of the airport.

Students were lighting firecrackers at the event, which was being attended by several airmen, when the bombs had struck the airbase.

Indiscriminate firing by panicked security personnel in the wake of the explosions had led to a number of friendly fire incidents, with casualties, airmen also said.
 

விமானத்தாக்குதலை புலிகளின் தலைவர் பிரபாகரனின் புதல்வரே வழிநடத்தியுள்ளார்? - வீரகேசரி நாளேடு, 29 March 2007

கட்டுநாயக்க விமானப்படைதளம் மீதான விமானத்தாக்குதலை விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் தலைவர் வே.பிரபாகரனின் புதல்வர் சாள்ஸ் அன்டனி வழிநடத்தியுள்ளதாக பாதுகாப்பு படையின் புலனாய்வுத் துறையினருக்கு தகவல் கிடைத்துள்ளது என்று சிங்கள பத்திரிகையான லக்பிம நேற்று செய்தி வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. இது குறித்து அந்தசெய்தியில் மேலும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது:

இலங்கை விமானப்படையினர் தயார்நிலையில் இருக்காததன் காரணமாகவே விடுதலைப்புலிகள் விமானப்படைத்தளம் மீது தாக்குதலை நடத்திவிட்டு தப்பிச்செல்லக்கூடியதாக இருந்துள்ளதென முதற்கட்டவிசாரணைகளிலிருந்து தெரியவந்துள்ளது. இவ்வாறான விமானத்தாக்குதல் ஒன்று நடத்தப்படுமென இலங்கை விமானப்படையினர் எதிர்பார்த்திருக்கவில்லையெனவும் விசாரணைகளின் மூலம் தெரியவந்துள்ளது.