SRI LANKA: AIR BASE ATTACK RESULTS IN HEAVY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001479

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR BASE ATTACK RESULTS IN HEAVY
DAMAGE, NEW SECURITY PROCEDURES

REF: A. STATE 148016

B. COLOMBO 1444

C. COLOMBO 1425

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Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(
b,d).


1. SUMMARY: Reports of damage from the October 21 attack on
the Anuradhapura air base (ref A) remain varied. The Sri
Lankan Air Force (SLAF) reports 8 aircraft destroyed and 14
SLAF casualties, including two pilots. According to a U.S.
defense contractor, approximately 75 percent of the SLAF's
airborne surveillance capacity was destroyed in the attack.
SLAF contacts report that the LTTE ground attack caused most
of the damage; they say that two bombs dropped by the LTTE
aircraft missed their targets and caused little or no damage.
Various investigations are currently underway to determine
what security lapses led to the attack. President Rajapaksa
has taken the responsibility for the security of air bases
away from the SLAF and given it to the Army. He also
apointed Major General Sanath Karunaratne to the newy
created post of Overall Operations Commander fr
Anuradhapura. This attack, and the previous oe near Yala
National Park (ref B),are serious bows to the GSL's claims
of having weakened the LTE. The loss of a significant
amount of surveillnce capability will complicate efforts by
the Sr Lankan military to make inroads in the North. En
Summary.

Mixed Damage Reports
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2. (C) Reports of damage from the Octoer 21 attack on the
Anuradhapura air base (ref A remain varied. The Sri Lankan
Air Force (SLAF)reports that 8 aircraft were destroyed
includingone MI-24 helicopter gunship, three PT-6 trainer
aircraft, one K-8 jet trainer, one Beechcraft, one MI-17
helicopter, and the Bell 212 helicopter that crashed. Sunday
Times defense journalist Iqbal Athas adds two UAVs to that
list and one additional PT-6 trainer. Embassy contacts
report that as many as 3 UAVs may have been destroyed and 1
damaged. One additional MI-17 helicopter and another MI-24
helicopter may also have been damaged. The Assistant
Government Agent in North Central Province confirmed that the
cause of the Bell 212 crash was likely friendly fire.
Embassy ODC FSN, retired from the SLAF, reports that the SLAF
should still have 6 undamaged MI-24 helicopter gunships.
(Note: We have not heard any reports of damage to the SLAF's
MIG 27 or Kfir fighter jets.) SLAF contacts report 14 SLAF
casualties, including two pilots.

Surveillance Capability Reduced
--------------


3. (C) SLAF contacts as well as a visiting US defense
contractor report that the destroyed Beechcraft King Air 200T
was equipped with an obsolete Israeli forward-looking
infrared system, and was scheduled to receive an upgrade to a
third generation Star Sapphire III system. The SLAF's
remaining King Air 200 is equipped with High Star synthetic
aperture radar which has been broken for over two years.
According to the U.S. defense contractor, approximately 75
percent of the SLAF's airborne surveillance capacity was
destroyed in the attack. SLAF is looking to replace the King
Air 200 as soon as possible through the purchase of a
"non-missionized" King Air 200, which the contractor believes
would not require a U.S. export license and could be
delivered in as little as 30 days.

Black Tigers Well-Armed and Well-Connected
--------------


4. (C) SLAF contacts report that the LTTE ground attack
involved between 20-30 cadres armed with rocket propelled

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grenades (RPGs) and small arms. Press reports indicate the
LTTE fighters wore military uniforms and explosive suicide
belts and were armed with T-56 rifles, AK-47s, Czech
automatic pistols, light anti-tank weapons, RPGs and
launchers, light machine guns, Mark 82 Chinese hand grenades,
and improvised explosive devices. Almost all of the damage
to aircraft was caused by the ground attack. SLAF contacts
say the two bombs dropped by the LTTE Zlin Z-143 aircraft
missed their targets and caused little or no damage.
According to local press, the LTTE cadres carried
walkie-talkies, satellite phones, and mobile phones with them
and were able to communicate with their controllers in the
Vanni up until the last couple of cadres were reportedly
killed at around 9 a.m.

GSL Searches for Answers
--------------


5. (C) Investigations are currently underway to determine
what security lapses led to the attack. A Court of Inquiry
chaired by Chief of Staff for the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal
PB Premachandra, is probing the attack on the air base. A
second Court of Inquiry is looking into the crash of the Bell

212. A third probe is being conducted by the Criminal
Investigation Division of the Sri Lanka Police. President
Rajapaksa has taken the responsibility for the security of
air bases away from the SLAF and given it to the Army. He
also appointed Major General Sanath Karunaratne to the newly
created post of Overall Operations Commander for
Anuradhapura. Karunaratne now has command over all security
forces in Anuradhapura District, including police, and his
responsibilities include oversight of intelligence
activities, civil/commercial security, and civil defense.


6. (C) COMMENT: This attack, and the previous one near
Yala National Park (ref B),are a blow to the GSL's claims of
having significantly weakened the LTTE. It appears obvious
that the LTTE had current, detailed intelligence on the
security situation at the base and the aircraft, including
the Beechcraft, that would be there. The LTTE's use of
aircraft was likely for propaganda value since they did not
appear until the ground attack has already proven successful.
The loss of a significant amount of surveillance capability
will make it more difficult for the Sri Lankan military to
make inroads in the North.
BLAKE