Clarifications And More

There has been a lot of 'speculation' and misinformation regarding the recent sinking of the three LTTE floating weapons-warehouses. It has been claimed that foreign intelligence sources had provided the vital information for the attack.

The important factor is the intelligence that led to the Navy identifying a possible date, location and number of LTTE arms warehouses at sea. Contrary to what was announced the attacks actually took place close to Indonesia in International Waters. The arms ships had been refueling and replenishing their depleted stocks while at sea in seas off Indonesia before embarking for Sri Lanka. The artillery shells on board were procured mainly from Cambodia.

The other important factor was Navy's ability to clearly identify the three ships. It has been speculated that the intelligence was provided by a foreign intelligence service. This is not true. This was the handiwork of Naval Intelligence and Naval Intelligence only! The Navy used only locals and local intelligence sources.

Each attack vessel had 'spotters' who identified the LTTE vessels clearly from the others. These 'spotters' were not Navy men. They were not from the Security Forces or the Police. They were also not foreigners.

False Casualty Figures

Pro-LTTE websites have indicated that upto 25 Special Task Force Commandos have been killed in fighting in Ampara and Batticaloa Districts. It is true that the LTTE maintains a presence of about 50 cadres in Ampara. In Batticaloa, they are limited to the LTTE Pistol-Group who operate in the guise of civilians. They are being forced to move from place to place in populated areas and also inside dense jungles by the STF and Military Intelligence, who are engaged in systematic tracking and ambushing of small LTTE groups. The latest such attack was launched last Saturday by STF. DefenceWire can confirm that the LTTE has not been able to ambush and kill such a large number of STF personnel in the recent past. We believe that a dearth of positive achievements for the LTTE in the last few months have led these sources to fabricate stories in order to lift the morale of its Expatriate Community.

Bomb Found Near Airport

Police found a powerful bomb fixed to a belt that is normally used by suicide bombers to target VIPs near the country's only international airport today, police sources said. The bomb was found near a roadside in Kadirana, Negambo a police official who did not want to be identified told defencewire.

The bomb contained at least 01 Kg RDX high explosives he said. The Tigers normally use C4, a highly effective plastic explosive. Police said they also found a camouflage uniform of a airman along with the bomb. In a separate incident the CID found 150 Walkie-Talkies with 04 Radars and some Antennae, police sources said. They were found from a house in Ja-Ela. The couple who reside in the house were also taken in to custody by the Police.