SLAF Mi-24 performs '4th landing' near Anuradhapura Airbase

A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Mi-24 helicopter gunship was seriously damaged when it performed a '4th landing' due to a technical fault. The pilot and gunners managed to escape unharmed.

The gunship was engaged in a search operation when the technical fault materialized. The pilot then took steps to crash land the helicopter however it suffered significant damaged in this process.

Meanwhile air defence system at KAB was activated last night when troops received information about suspected aircraft inbound from LTTE held regions. However, it was later revealed that no LTTE aircraft flew towards KAB.

SLA starts recruitments for Mechanized Infantry Division and Air Defence Force

Sri Lanka Army has started recruiting personnel for two newly formed special infantry formations. Recruitments will be open from today for Mechanized Infantry Division (MID- Sinhalese: Yanthrika Pabala Regimenthuwa) and Air Defence Force (ADF- Sinhalese: Sangramika Guwan Bala Senawa).

Both MID and ADF are newly formed special infantry formations with MID specializing in mechanized warfare while ADF acts as an Air Force's special fighting formation specializing in Air and Ground combat. ADF will be SLAF's second special infantry formation next to the 'Regiment Special Forces (RSF)'.

Tamil Eelam Air Force misses its target as elite troops avert major disaster

SLA elite commando units stationed in the northern forward defence lines (FDL) averted a major disaster today by taking timely action to rout incoming TAF aircraft. Two light aircraft of TAF were flying towards Palaly military base at around 1.20am today when soldiers stationed in FDLs observed, notified military command and opened fire at the aircraft causing them to abort the mission. Palaly military base is SLA's largest base complex in the embattled northern region and an airstrike on the complex would have caused catastrophic ripple effects to army operations throughout northern province.

Two light aircraft of the Tamil Eelam Air Force took part in the failed mission. Armed forces on guard duty detected the incoming aircraft and opened fire after receiving confirmation that they were engaged in a hostile operation. TAF aircraft, unable to penetrate the fire curtain created by SLA LMG and .50 caliber fire, dropped 4 bombs near Myladdi area and flew back towards rebel held region. 6 soldiers who came out of the bunkers to open fire at incoming aircrafts were caught in one of the explosions caused by TAF bombing. They succumbed to injuries after admitting to Palaly military hospital.

Pro LTTE media were seen falsely reporting that TAF succeeded the air mission. However DefenceNet has video evidence (cannot be released as they contain footage of sensitive information vital to national security) that will prove them all false. We can confirm that LTTE aircraft did not fly over Palaly base complex and they did not bomb Palaly base complex or the adjoining airfield in the attempted airstrike.

However, it should be noted that the two light aircraft were able to escape back to Wanni. This is the most worrying factor for the SLA in today's incident. If the tiger airstrikes (successful or not) continue, it would seriously degrade SLA ground troop morale.

SLAF starts Combat Air Patrols

In the wake of Tamil Eelam Air Force threat (aka Vanpuliga), SLAF have stationed Combat Air Patrols (Sinhalese: Sangramika Guwan Mura Sanchara) to monitor the skies over Sri lankan soil. KfirC2/C7/TC2/MiG27 multirole jet fighters (now upgraded with night attack capabilities) will be used in these patrols. Keeping such Combat Air Patrols on station allows the SLAF to dynamically attack LTTE targets as they receive intelligence from ground based sources.

One such Air Patrol carried out a pre emptive strike on a key LTTE communications center in Puthukuduirippu, Mullaithivu 2 days ago. The attack completely destroyed the communications infrastructure at the site and caused the death of a senior LTTE leader; their international media coordinator.

In addition to this, LTTE's airstrip (located near Iranamadu Irrigation tank) too was attacked several times in last week. Ground based intelligence sources have confirmed that the runway was 'considerably' damaged due to recent airstrikes.

LRRP takes major LTTE target

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) was humiliated when it's leader was killed in a claymore explosion which took place in rebel held Wanni district last week. Sri lanka army's Long Lange Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) units operating deep inside rebel territory carried out the attack which delivered a deadly blow to LTTE's deep penetration capabilities. The tractor transporting LTTE DPU leader and LTTE intelligence wing members was blasted into pieces by a powerful roadside claymore explosion.

LTTE's Deep Penetration Unit was behind many civilian massacres which took place during the recent times. Disrupting civilian life, defaming Sri Lankan government/armed forces and hunting down rival Tamil faction leaders were the main objectives of LTTE DPU. It was formed by current LTTE Batticaloa district commander Jeyam few years ago.

According to our information, specially trained Long Range Surveillance (LRS) units of the 3rd Special Forces regiment were used in the attack. Exact location and further details of the attack will not be revealed for security reasons.

Army takes control over A5 road

Infantry units of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry and Gemunu Watch took complete control over the Mahaoya-Chenkaladi A5 yesterday. With this capture, SLA are now in complete control over 90% of civilian populated areas in the eastern province.

With most of civilian populated areas liberated, troops are slowly but surely marching towards Thoppigala, the last major rebel stronghold in the Eastern province. Instead of charging with all guns blazing, SLA is using 4 man and 8 man teams of Special Forces and Commandos to neutralize primary defence lines of the LTTE. This strategy was proven to be successful in the Vakarai offensive. However, SLA is expected to face stiff resistance from at least 300 hard core LTTE fighters trapped in Thoppigala region as they will be forced to 'fight to death'. Lack of a sea based supply route to Wanni has seriously crippled the tigers and have forced them loot civilian held shops and houses for food.

Meanwhile at least 20 LTTE cadres were confirmed to be killed in an artillery duel which took place on the 10th near Mannar FDLs when LTTE directed heavy mortar fire towards army positions in the FDL and towards Muhamalai entry exit point. 36 lorries carrying food for civilians in the besieged northern region were forced to turn back due to the tiger artillery attack. 4 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 10 were wounded in the incident.

Renegade LTTE commander says LTTE smuggled in 30 artillery guns during CFA

"Some six 130 mm artillery guns, four 152 mm guns and more than 20 122 mm guns and Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRL) were smuggled in. They were brought by ship and unloaded off Challai near Mullaithiv." says Karuna Amman, leader of TMVP, in an interview given to the local newspaper 'The Nation'. Read full article here.

Karuna Amman deserted the LTTE and formed his own faction 3 years ago. More than 1000 armed personnel are currently under his command. Before his desertion, he lead many successful attacks against the Sri Lankan army most natable being operation unceasing waves 1,2 and 3.

Meanwhile, LTTE shelled a large part of Jaffna city targeting both military and civilian structures today morning. 5 SLA soldiers were killed and more than 10 were wounded in the artillery strike.

LTTE artillery fire was directed at the Muhamalai entry/exit point simultaneously. Muhamalai is used to transport essential goods to civilians in the northern region.

SLN Inshore Patrol Craft sunk in sea battle

Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) lost one of it's inshore patrol craft (IPC) today during a confrontation with the LTTE's sea tiger units. Naval patrol intercepted an LTTE boat movement off the waters of Silawathurei today morning.

An LTTE boat laden with explosives and manned by two black tigers tried to ram into the lead IPC. Navy was able to shoot the suicide boat before it could ram into the SLN vessel but the IPC was heavily damaged as the boat exploded in close proximity of it. This IPC was later sunk but the navy was able to rout the remaining 4 LTTE boats making them flee towards Silawathurei area.

Most of the SLN losses in recent times have largely been due to lack of essential naval firepower. SLN vessels are armed with aging 23MM cannons (except the OPCs which have 40MM cannons and sea missile launch capability) while their sea tiger counterparts have been able to install in 30MM weapons systems in their craft.

The latest SLN loss comes after the SLAF wiped the sea tiger HQ off the map last week.

SLAF fighter jets are not flown by foreign pilots

Last week it was reported in a local newspaper that SLAF fighter jets are flown by Pakistani and Ukrainian pilots. This is misleading information.

MiG27 aircraft were flown by Ukrainian pilots during the past. However newly acquired MiG aircraft are flown by Sri Lankan pilots who underwent training in India. Once again, none of the combat aircraft in 5th and 10th squadrons are flown by foreign pilots. The same applies for Helicopter gunships.   

Truth about Chenkaladi suicide bomber

Last week an LTTE suicide bomber tried to drive an explosive filled truck into army's main camp in Chenkaladi,Batticaloa district. Luckily, army personnel on guard were able to change the direction of the truck, therefore averting a great disaster. However four army soldiers and 8 civilians were killed when the suicide bomber blew up the truck after it crashed.

Primary investigations on the wreckage has revealed a startling fact; the suicide bomber who drove the truck into the army camp was disabled. Forensics analysis has proved that suicide cadre who carried out the bombing had one leg missing. 

Apparently the above mentioned suicide bomber was an LTTE cadre who was wounded in a previous battle. A handicapped LTTE cadre is yet another burden for the LTTE. At one point during the Jayasikuru operation, LTTE leader Prabhakaran ordered more than 50 of wounded LTTE cadres to be shot in order to save resources for other fighters.

SLAF conducts night missions

Following the LTTE aerial attack on KAB, SLAF bombers and helicopter gunships were put to the test with several night mission assignments. Mi-24 (hind) Gunships and Kfir fighter jets were used to attack LTTE targets in northern province at around 1am and 4 am in the morning. Air force pilots have confirmed that the missions were successfully completed.

Pro LTTE media and many international news agencies had previously claimed that SLAF had no night attack capability. Some even used this fact as a benchmark to show that Tamil Eelam Air Force pilots were more skilled than the SLAF personnel.

Meanwhile, after a week of unconfirmed reports and speculation, Defencenet can officially confirm that no fixed wing aircraft was damaged in the KAB attack. However, 5 helicopters which were damaged in the attack have been repaired. These were parked in the hangars nearby the Aeronautical Engineering Wing. It would have been catastrophic had a bomb fell near a hangar which housed fighter jets of 10th squadron.