The fallout from the Black Tiger attack on SLAF base

The worst incident in Sri Lanka's 18 year long separatist war, the Black Tiger attack on the Sri Lanka Air Force base and the adjoining Bandaranaike International Airport at Katunayake on July 24, drew the attention of the Government this week, despite the distraction from a tense polls campaign.

Last Tuesday, President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga directed the termination and discharge from the Sri Lanka Air Force of five officers and 26 airmen, for various lapses connected with the devastating attack. The highest ranking officer to be removed is Air Commodore R.A. Ananda, who was Base Commander at Katunayake at the time of the attack and currently under interdiction.

Three other senior officers – Air Commodore J.L.C. Salgado, Director (Operations) and number three in the SLAF hierarchy, Wing Commander A.M. de Zoysa, Staff Operations II and Wing Commander B.D. Abeysooriya, then Commanding Officer at BIA and currently under interdiction – are to be issued with warnings "to be more alert in the timely discharge of their duties in the future." They are also to have an increment of their salary suspended for their "failures and lapses" which contributed towards the incident, according to the Presidential directive.

Two SLAF officers and ten airmen who displayed bravery in the face of the deadly encounters on July 24 are to be commended and given gallantry awards. They include Flight Lieutenant M.P.S. Marapperuma and Flying Officer S.S. Dissanayake. See --> Commendations for 12 brave men

President Kumaratunga's directive last Tuesday is based on the findings of an Air Force Court of Inquiry that probed the July 24 attack on the airbase. The Court's report ran into over 1,000 pages with 283 witnesses testifying before it. Its recommendations, based on the findings, were forwarded to the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Jayalath Weerakkody. He in turn had forwarded it to Secretary, Ministry of Defence Chandrananda de Silva, after making observations on the various recommendations. In most instances he had endorsed the findings of the Court of Inquiry whilst expressing reservations in respect of some findings according to a report with the Ministry of Defence.

The findings of the Court of Inquiry, on which action has now been initiated, is only one aspect of the investigations into the Katunayake incidents. It was an internal Air Force inquiry confined to the attack on the airbase and Air Force security at BIA. It mainly focused on investigating and reporting on the nature of the attack, to ascertain whether adequate arrangements had been made for the defence of the SLAF base and BIA and to ascertain whether there are any violation of orders and instructions issued.

A two member Commission of Inquiry appointed to probe broader aspects is yet to commence sittings. It comprises retired Judge of the Court of Appeal D. Jayawickrema and Air Vice Marshal Pathman Mendis, a former Commander of the Air Force. Among other matters, they will go into the specific nature of the security placed in position by the SLAF and other authorities for the protection of the airbase and the BIA.

Another important aspect is the co-ordination which prevailed amongst not only the State security arms like the SLAF and Police but also with Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd., and other authorities. The 15 point terms of reference of the two member Commission have been so broadly formulated that it encompasses practically all aspects relating to the incident. The Commission has called for public representations only now and formal sittings are not likely for a few more weeks.

Another detailed investigation launched by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) is still continuing. On the basis of preliminary findings and report sent to the Attorney General's Department, only one senior SLAF officer, Air Commodore R.A. Ananda, has been indicted in the Magistrate's Court.

CID investigations, personally directed by DIG Punya de Silva, has gone beyond probing the July 24 Katunayake incidents to unravel details of how the Tiger guerrilla network operated in the City and suburbs. But CID officials say further reports on the findings against other SLAF officials would be forwarded to the Attorney General's Department in due course.

The SLAF Court of Inquiry was headed by Air Vice Marshal Vijith Tennekoon, who has gone on leave prior to retirement last Wednesday after failing to win a further extension of his term. Other members were Group Captain E.G.J.P. De Silva (Technical Engineering branch), Group Captain T.M.P.D. Tennekoon (Equipment branch), Wing Commander G.P. Bulathsinhala (General Duties- Pilots branch), Wing Commander Saranath Rambukwella (Administration branch) and Wing Commander D.M.S. Karunaratne (Medical branch). They were appointed on July 26, two days after the Katunayake incidents.

The Commission of Inquiry has noted that the 26 airmen whom President Kumaratunga has directed should be terminated, acted "negligently or were cowardly in performing their duties."

Among the instances listed:

• Two airmen who failed to carry out a thorough search of items thrown away by the terrorists, in spite of being warned by civilians.

• A corporal at the Regiment Operations Room who acted negligently and failed to alert the authorities on being warned of a suspected enemy intrusion into the camp.

• Two Leading Aircraftsmen were negligent in carrying out their duties at the guard point located close to the point where the enemy breached the fence.

• A Leading Aircraftsman who withdrew from the duty point without authority and making a false statement under oath.

• An Aircraftsman who shamelessly withdrew for cover during the attack and making a false statement under oath.

• A Sergeant for not reporting to the parking apron when ordered to do so.

The Court of Inquiry has listed the names of 19 airmen "who shamelessly did not counter attack in the face of enemy fire."

The strongest indictment by the Court of Inquiry has been on the then Base Commander, Air Commodore R.A. Ananda. It has found that the "negligence of the Base Commander" has contributed to the failure of the defence of the SLAF Base, Katunayake. The Court has declared "he has not carried out a review of the defence plan after taking charge of the Base on January 9, 2001.

The Court has held that he has not supervised the implementation of the defence plan that was available in the Base. He has also not taken adequate measures to strengthen the defence in spite of the warnings given by the Air Force Headquarters and the Commander of the Air Force, it has added.

According to the Court of Inquiry, the Base Commander has taken up the position that the Base did not have an approved defence plan stating that no response has been received for the defence plan submitted to Air Force Headquarters in October, 2000. The Court has held "the total responsibility for the failure of defence to the Base Commander" and recommended disciplinary action against him.

Besides the then Base Commander, three other officers against whom strong indictments have been made by the Court of Inquiry are Wing Commander R.A. N. R. Ratnayake, Squadron Leader Y.H.R.Y. Dissanayake, Pilot Officer A.K.D. Chandrakumara and Flying Officer S.W.W.D.K. Edwin.

Wing Commander Ratnayake, Commanding Officer of the 27 Regiment Wing, was responsible for ground defence. The Court has accused him for failure to implement the defence plan to defend the airbase during the attack. Charging him of negligence, the Court has pointed out that the area near the perimeter fence where the enemy broke into the camp, was covered with overgrown shrubs and not illuminated.

Whilst his lapses contributed to the attack on the airbase the Court has said that in mitigation Wing Commander Ratnayake had cited his health condition though he had not brought this to the notice of the relevant authorities. 

It has declared that it would not have impaired his abilities to deduce, plan and execute defences.

The Court of Inquiry has allocated responsibility for the failure to seal off the runway to Sqn. Ldr. Dissanayake. He had been ordered by the Commanding Officer at BIA to seal off the runway "to prevent terrorists gaining access to the apron. He had around 30 – 35 men for the task and sufficient time to react. He, however, had failed to accomplish the task assigned. As a result the terrorists have been able to enter the parking apron and then the terminal building."

The Court has placed responsibility on Pilot Officer Chandrakumara, Sector Commander, "P" Sector "in which the terrorists breached the perimeter fence, stating that defence is not in proper shape and also for not carrying out checks."

He has been held responsible for his failure to supervise the work of his subordinates and to project the shortcomings in his sector to superiors.

The Court has said that Flying Officer Edwin, who was Duty Officer at the armoury supervising the issue of weapons for range firing has kept the doors open. He had abandoned the place contrary to orders to remain at the armoury during an emergency. The Court has recommended disciplinary action against him for "disobeying orders and giving false evidence."

Affected officers will be in a position to send Redress of Grievance (ROG) petitions to the Commander of the Air Force. In the alternative, they are also able to seek legal remedy in Courts.

Whether the termination and discharge of the services of 31 officers will be carried out in such a way that they will retain their pension rights, is not known. A Defence Ministry source who spoke on grounds of anonymity said the punitive measures would be much the same as those applied to security forces personnel involved in the 1999 Wanni debacles. However, in that instance those responsible were sent on "compulsory leave" whereas instructions in respect of the SLAF officers and other ranks is that their services should be "terminated and discharged" from service.

The source said procedural measures connected with President Kumaratunga's "terminate and discharge" order would be worked out in the coming week.

The first time punitive action was taken against top level military officials by the People's Alliance came after the Wanni debacles. A three member Court of Inquiry headed by then Army Chief of Staff and now Commander, Lt. Gen. Lionel Balagalle comprised then Navy Chief of Staff and now Commander, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri and Air Vice Marshal Donald Perera, Chief of Staff of the Air Force.

Seven senior officers were sent on compulsory leave for being "singularly and collectively" responsible for the Wanni reversals. They were Major General Wasantha Perera, then Security Forces Commander, Wanni, Major General Gamini Gunasekera (then GOC – 56 Division), Brigadier T.M. Bohran (then officiating GOC – 55 Divison). Colonel Athula Lankadeva (Commanding Officer, 561 Brigade), Major B.V.U. Chandrasiri (Commanding Officer, 20th Battalion Sri Lanka National Guard), Major Mora Mudali (deputy commander 11th Battalion of Gemunu Watch) and Major M.D. Illangasinghe (Commanding Officer of 15th Volunteer Battalion of the Sinha Regiment).

Punitive action was also taken against two Navy officers – Commodore T.M.W.K.B. Tennekoon (then Commanding Officer, North Central Command) and Commander N.K.D. Nanayakkara (then Commanding Officer, SLNS Walagamba).

However, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Sandagiri has ordered a review of the punishment meted out to these two officers following appeals made by them. However, in the case of the Army officers there has been no such review which raises the fundamental question of uniformity in actions by the Ministry of Defence.

With only one probe from three now over, more details on various aspects of the July 24 Katunayake incidents will only unfold in the months ahead. Only then will a more fuller picture emerge. 
 

Commendations for 12 brave men

They are: Flt. Lt. M.P.S.Marapperuma, Fg. Off S.S. Dissanayake, Lac L.R.V.P. Kumarasinghe, Lac S.R.R.Y. Samaratunga, Lac J.S.W. Gamachchige, Lac P.K. Samarasinghe, LAC L.D. Ananda, AC K.R.A. B. Mahanama, Lac M.I. Karunatilleke, AC V.B.M.S. Dharshana, Lac B.M.M. Sirisena and Lac W.D.M. Fernando.