AMEMBASSY COLOMBO EAC ADDRESSES LTTE "AIR TIGER"

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000989 SIPDIS SENSITIVE DEPARTMENT FOR DS/IP/RD/SCA, DS/DSS/ITA, SA/INS AND CA NEW DELHI FOR LEGAL ATTACHE'S OFFICE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC CASC PTER SUBJECT: AMEMBASSY COLOMBO EAC ADDRESSES LTTE "AIR TIGER" ATTACK ON 10/28/2008 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On October 29, 2008, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an Emergency Action Committee (EAC) meeting to discuss security for the official and expatriate American communities in light of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) "Air Tiger" attacks on the evening of October 28, ¶2008. The EAC agreed that it would be prudent to issue a Warden message, outlining the specifics of the attacks. However, the EAC did not feel that the attacks posed a new or specific threat to the American community and therefore did not recommend additional security measures at this time. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On October 29, 2008, AmEmbassy Colombo convened an EAC meeting. Present for the meeting were the Deputy Chief of Mission, Regional Security Officer, Consular Officer, Political Officer, Economic Officer, Regional Affairs Officer, Management Officer, Public Affairs Officer, USAID Director, IBB Station Chief, Community Liaison Officer, and Marine Security Guard Detachment Commander. The EAC discussed security for the official and expatriate American communities in light of the LTTE "Air Tiger" attacks on GSL installations during the evening of October 28, 2008. ¶3. (SBU) Between approximately 2230 and 2330 hr. local (1300 and 1400 EDT) on October 28, 2008, the LTTE air wing, known as the "Air Tigers," carried out bombing raids on a military base in the Mannar district of Northern Province and a power station in Colombo. In the first attack on the Tallady army base in Mannar at about 2230 hr., LTTE aircraft dropped at least two bombs, injuring two soldiers and causing minor damage. In the second incident, at approximately 2330 hr. at the Kelanitissa power plant (located within Colombo, approximately eight kilometers northeast of the American Embassy),another LTTE aircraft dropped two bombs. The ensuing explosions set fire to a power generator. The Colombo Fire Brigade quickly extinguished the blaze. A Ceylon Electricity Board employee who was at the plant during the attack later died of a heart attack in a local hospital. Note: RSO maintains a map of terrorist incidents in Colombo on the Embassy's unclassified Intranet page: http://colombo.state.gov/documents/ColomboTer roristincidents.pdf ¶4. (SBU) Upon detecting the LTTE aircraft, Sri Lankan security forces activated an air attack defense plan, illuminating the skies over Colombo with high-intensity searchlights and extinguishing electrical power in most of the city to adopt a "blackout" mode. The Embassy's lights remained illuminated when the emergency generators activated. Sri Lanka police asked the guard force to turn off the Embassy's lights, but the Embassy did not comply with the request. (During similar incidents in early 2007, the Embassy compound remained illuminated.) In addition to extinguishing power, security forces discharged anti-aircraft batteries, while some soldiers and police fired small arms indiscriminately into the air. The GSL restored electric power to most areas of the city at approximately 0030 hr. on October 29. ¶5. (SBU) The EAC concurred that the attacks did not signal an increasing danger to either the official or expatriate American communities. The Air Tigers have flown into Colombo on previous occasions and attacked GSL military or economic targets. No official American residences are located in the vicinity of the power plant. RSO's security briefings and post's security information for the general American community already address the GSL's response to Air Tiger attacks (blackouts, anti-aircraft batteries and falling shells) and precautions to take during such attacks. Nonetheless, the EAC agreed that the Consular Section should issue a Warden message, detailing the facts of the incident and reiterating measures that American citizens can take to mitigate the threat during an Air Tiger raid. Beyond issuing the Warden message, the EAC concurred that security measures in place at Mission facilities and residences are commensurate with the actual threat, and therefore the EAC recommended no changes to post's security posture. ¶6. (U) Post will report further developments septel. POC for this message is RSO Michael V. Perkins, who may be contacted at 94.11.249.8885, 94.11.249.8888 (MSG Post 1 after regular business hours),and by email at perkinsmv@state.gov (unclassified) or perkinsmv@state.sgov.gov (classified). Blake