Sri Lanka News Updates with Discussions

By B.Raman

http://www.saag.org/papers22/paper2185.html

''..The only information which the Government has given out is that two helicopters were damaged. It has tried to create an impression as if there was no damage to its fighter aircraft. Source reports, on the other hand, indicate that the TAF air strike has severely damaged, if not destroyed, at least a half of the aircraft holdings of the SLAF. The truth will be known only if and when the SLAF resumes its operations in the Tamil areas. If the Government's contention that there was no damage to its fighter aircraft is correct, then there would be no impact on its air operations in the Tamil areas. If the source reports' contention is correct, one would see a marked decrease in the SLAF's air operations in the days to come..''

''MULLAITIVU/BATTICALOA/MANNAR/VAVUNIYA: AROUND 2.00 P.M. TODAY, ISRAELI BUILT KFIRS and Russian MIG 27 bombers destroyed LTTE artillery and mortar potions in THOPPIGALA, BATTICALOA and in SUDDAIPIDDI, north of MANNAR..''

http://www.nationalsecurity.lk/fullnews.php?id=4983

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.

Source reports, on the other hand, indicate that the TAF air strike has severely damaged, if not destroyed, at least a half of the aircraft holdings of the SLAF.

''..The air strike was a daring operation. The TAF aircraft were air-borne for a little over two hours. There was every danger of the aircraft being intercepted and destroyed by the SLAF. The fact that the LTTE leadership decided to face this risk speaks of a certain desperation behind the decision to launch the air strike..''

''..This desperation has arisen from the LTTE's fears that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces were planning to launch an offensive in the Northern Province after having ejected the LTTE from nearly 85 per cent of the total territory in the Eastern Province. If the SL Armed Forces score similar successes in the Northern Province, that could deal a severe blow to the LTTE's political objectives..''

''..There was elation among the Sri Lankan Tamils all over the world. Many champagne bottles were broken by members of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora..''

And in a bizarre, yet absolutely hilarious case of diabolical irony!! tamilnet and B.Raman end up quoting each other about proof on the alleged damages..

Poor Raman. What a sour loser. According to him Pakistani pilots are flying Kfirs to drop 'STONES' lol!!

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

''Three bombs were dropped 25 meters from a class room. A bomb that hit a tree exploded in the air, wounding two children and a teacher.''

And in a bizarre, yet absolutely hilarious case of diabolical irony!! tamilnet and B.Raman end up quoting each other about proof on the alleged damages..

Many champagne bottles were broken by members of the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora. One could see a fresh flow of volunteers to join the LTTE from Sri Lanka itself as well as from the diaspora. And a fresh flow of funds.

''Listening to lots of different views rather than just one means you can decide for yourself;
Instead of being told what to think;
Don't you agree?
You don't have to of course :) .''

-Nightfox78

Barring the US, which has been heavily using air strikes against the Neo Taliban in Afghanistan and the terrorists and resistance-fighters in Iraq, without any significant success, and Israel, which did so in the Lebanon in July last year,no other country in the world uses air strikes for counter-insurgency operations in such a ruthless manner as the Rajapakse Government has been doing. At the least the US and Israel have been bombing foreign people in foreign territory, but the Rajapakse Government has been bombing from air its own people in its own territory.