Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09COLOMBO200
2009-02-23 12:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: AIR TIGERS RAID COLOMBO; SUSPECTED LTTE
how-toP 231207Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9435 INFO AMEMBASSY ATHENS AMEMBASSY DHAKA AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU AMEMBASSY LONDON AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI AMEMBASSY OSLO AMEMBASSY TOKYO AMCONSUL CHENNAI AMCONSUL MUMBAI AMCONSUL TORONTO USMISSION GENEVA HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI DIA WASHINGTON DC NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC USEU BRUSSELS MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORPORATION
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000200
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR TIGERS RAID COLOMBO; SUSPECTED LTTE
CADRES KILL 21 VILLAGERS
REF: 08 COLOMBO 983
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE.
REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000200
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR TIGERS RAID COLOMBO; SUSPECTED LTTE
CADRES KILL 21 VILLAGERS
REF: 08 COLOMBO 983
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE.
REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (SBU) On February 20 at about 21:45 local time, two LTTE
aircraft attacked Colombo. The government of Sri Lanka
reacted quickly to activate the AIR defense system in
Colombo, cutting electric power while high-intensity
spotlights searched the sky. Shortly thereafter, the
security forces activated anti-aircraft batteries located
throughout the city. The first plane crashed into the Inland
Revenue Department (IRD) building in downtown Colombo,
setting it on fire. According to the pro-LTTE website
TamilNet, the intended target for this plane was the nearby
Air FORCE Headquarters; however, AIR FORCE contacts told DATT
that the plane had passed by SLAF headquarters en route to
the IRD building. According to media reports, two civilians
were killed by falling anti-aircraft fire in the incidents.
About 50 were reported injured. Consular section confirmed
that no AmCits were hurt in the raid. The TransAsia hotel,
adjacent to the Revenue Department building, sustained minor
damage. The second plane came close to, but failed to reach
its target, Katunayake AIR FORCE base in the Colombo suburbs,
immediately adjacent to the international airport. Ground
fire brought the plane down in a field just short of the AIR
base's perimeter fence. The plane was carrying 146 kg of C-4
explosive, which failed to detonate on impact. The Sri
Lankan military reported finding the pilot's body nearby.
2. (C) Despite the military's success in shooting down one
of the planes at Katunayake, the attack demonstrated that the
planes are still able to take off from short strips of
cleared land within the small remaining area of
LTTE-controlled territory. Both planes followed a similar
path to the LTTE's last AIR raid in October 2008 (ref A),
departing the Tiger-held Vanni and traveling along Sri
Lanka's western coast before reaching Colombo. Despite being
picked up by Indian-provided radars in northern Sri Lanka,
and by an infrared camera after the first plane passed the
Colombo port area, the AIR FORCE was unable to intercept and
shoot down the planes before they reached Colombo. According
to a trusted Embassy source, the LTTE likely now has
approximately three planes remaining and the pilots to fly
them.
3. (U) In a separate incident on February 22, suspected LTTE
cadres attacked Karametiya village along the
Ampara-Moneragala district border in Sri Lanka's east. 21
villagers were killed in the attack, including three children
and two Civil Defense FORCE members. Police reported that
the attackers stormed the village and fired indiscriminately,
planting mines before leaving. The LTTE, as per its
customary practice, has not acknowledged responsibility for
this attack on civilians.
Moore
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/29/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR TIGERS RAID COLOMBO; SUSPECTED LTTE
CADRES KILL 21 VILLAGERS
REF: 08 COLOMBO 983
Classified By: CLASSIFIED BY CHARGE D'AFFAIRES JAMES R. MOORE.
REASONS: 1.4(b,d).
1. (SBU) On February 20 at about 21:45 local time, two LTTE
aircraft attacked Colombo. The government of Sri Lanka
reacted quickly to activate the AIR defense system in
Colombo, cutting electric power while high-intensity
spotlights searched the sky. Shortly thereafter, the
security forces activated anti-aircraft batteries located
throughout the city. The first plane crashed into the Inland
Revenue Department (IRD) building in downtown Colombo,
setting it on fire. According to the pro-LTTE website
TamilNet, the intended target for this plane was the nearby
Air FORCE Headquarters; however, AIR FORCE contacts told DATT
that the plane had passed by SLAF headquarters en route to
the IRD building. According to media reports, two civilians
were killed by falling anti-aircraft fire in the incidents.
About 50 were reported injured. Consular section confirmed
that no AmCits were hurt in the raid. The TransAsia hotel,
adjacent to the Revenue Department building, sustained minor
damage. The second plane came close to, but failed to reach
its target, Katunayake AIR FORCE base in the Colombo suburbs,
immediately adjacent to the international airport. Ground
fire brought the plane down in a field just short of the AIR
base's perimeter fence. The plane was carrying 146 kg of C-4
explosive, which failed to detonate on impact. The Sri
Lankan military reported finding the pilot's body nearby.
2. (C) Despite the military's success in shooting down one
of the planes at Katunayake, the attack demonstrated that the
planes are still able to take off from short strips of
cleared land within the small remaining area of
LTTE-controlled territory. Both planes followed a similar
path to the LTTE's last AIR raid in October 2008 (ref A),
departing the Tiger-held Vanni and traveling along Sri
Lanka's western coast before reaching Colombo. Despite being
picked up by Indian-provided radars in northern Sri Lanka,
and by an infrared camera after the first plane passed the
Colombo port area, the AIR FORCE was unable to intercept and
shoot down the planes before they reached Colombo. According
to a trusted Embassy source, the LTTE likely now has
approximately three planes remaining and the pilots to fly
them.
3. (U) In a separate incident on February 22, suspected LTTE
cadres attacked Karametiya village along the
Ampara-Moneragala district border in Sri Lanka's east. 21
villagers were killed in the attack, including three children
and two Civil Defense FORCE members. Police reported that
the attackers stormed the village and fired indiscriminately,
planting mines before leaving. The LTTE, as per its
customary practice, has not acknowledged responsibility for
this attack on civilians.
Moore