Government condemns LTTE attempt on Air Force Camp

Calls for unity to fight  terrorism

[Monday, March 26, 2007 - 3.30 GMT]     

The Government vehemently condemns the cowardly attempt to attack the Katunayake Air Force Camp that took place in the early hours today.

The attack was carried out with a light aircraft that dropped three bombs at the hangars at the Engineering Section of the air base. Two of the bombs exploded  while the third failed to explode.

The attack failed in its objective of damaging or destroying the fighter aircraft at  the Air Force
base.

Three Air Force personnel died in this attack and 16 others were injured.

Government has offered condolences to the next of kin of those who died in this attack.

Following is the full text of the statement on this attack issued by the Director of Government Information.

The Government vehemently condemns the cowardly attempt to attack the Katunayake Air Force Camp in the aftermath of major defeats suffered by the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the North and East. Although the attack failed to achieve its objective of destroying fighter aircraft at the base, three Air Force personnel died and 16 others suffered injuries.
The Government offers condolences to the next of kin of the victims.

A light aircraft has dropped three bombs at the hangers at the Engineering section of the air base and two of them exploded while the third bomb failed to explode.

The attack came at 12.45 a.m. on Monday and the Air Force defence system got immediately activated preventing the enemy plane from making further
attempts. Neither the fighter aircraft at the hangers of the Air Force Camp nor the runaway was damaged.

The Bandaranaike International Airport is in full operation for all incoming and out going flights as scheduled. The LTTE terrorists suffered major defeats in the East as the security forces succeeded in rescuing the civilian population from the clutches of the terrorists in recent weeks. It is common practice of terrorist organizations to resort to cowardly attacks and cause maximum damage in the face of defeats in the battlefront. Such attempts to disrupt civilian life
in the face of humiliating defeat could continue and the forces have been placed on full alert.

It is the time to rise above narrow political differences and to refrain from unduly discrediting the security forces as such campaigns could result in strengthening the LTTE terrorists and demoralizing the security forces.
The Government wishes to emphasize that the nation is supreme and no political ambitions should supercede the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

The Government is determined to face any challenge in its fight against terrorism and appeals to all section of the Sri Lankan society to extend fullest cooperation in this national endeavour. It is the responsibility of
all concerned to cast aside petty political differences and stand by the Government to safeguard unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the nation and to eradicate the menace of terrorism.

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Last Updated Date: March 26, 2007 - 3.30 GMT