Situation Report

Members of the Navy's Special Boat Squadron during a training stint in Trincomalee.

Tigers scale down air show

A Navy sailor points a gun on an Inshore Patrol Craft in the direction of Sampur as the IPC speeds past.

The Government is to raise issue at the highest levels with Norway over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) constructing an airstrip in Kilinochchi and developing an air capability during the period of the ceasefire.

The move now awaits the formulation of a comprehensive report to President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga by the Chief of National Intelligence, retired Major General Chula Seneviratne. He has been tasked with this responsibility after the National Security Council studied several reports.

These reports were periodically highlighted exclusively in The Sunday Times. It began with revelations about the Tiger guerrillas constructing an airstrip with a 1,250 metre long runway. Thereafter, Israeli built Searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) spotted two different light aircraft on the ground in this air strip, located east of the Iranamadu irrigation tank.

Navy's SBS men during training in Trincomalee

Though first believed to be dummies, they were firmly established later that the aircraft were real. This was after subsequent UAV flights showed one moving on the runway with its engines running. It was believed to have touched down after a flight.

The Air Force is yet to conclusively identify the type of the light aircraft though their suspicions point to the Swiss built Pilatus PC 7 trainer that could carry an ordinance load of 1,040 kilogrammes.

Last week The Sunday Times revealed exclusively how an Air Force helicopter had its Missile Approach Warning System (MAWS) activated when it was flying close to the new airstrip. This took place on February 10 when the helicopter was on its way to pick up Soosaipillai Joseph Anthonydas alias "Colonel Sornam" from Kilinochchi. All the flares on the right side of the helicopter were exhausted. With "Col. Sornam" on board, when they were again near the airstrip whilst en route to the east, the MAWS was activated. Thereafter, all the flares on the left side of the helicopter began firing.

These flares, 60 in a pod on each side of the helicopter, are part of an electronic counter missile mechanism. After being fired, they light up the sky and generate heat. This heat deflects any missiles fired at the helicopter and forces it to explode in mid air. The Air Force still remains puzzled on how the MAWS came to be activated when there was no malfunction of the system in the aircraft.

As revealed last week, one of the suspicions centres on the possibility of Tiger guerrillas testing an air defence system. In the past weeks, the defence establishment has been preoccupied with making a detailed study of the threats posed by the Tiger guerrillas acquiring air capability. Some specific measures including mobile systems to cope with any threats are being put in place. This is whilst the Air Force continues aerial surveillance over the Wanni skies.

Flights during the past few days by the Searcher UAV have revealed that Tiger guerrillas have either temporarily stopped or scaled down activity at the airstrip. The Air Force believes this is due to regular monitoring by them. A Searcher UAV mission recently had shown that one light aircraft was inside a hangar that lay close to the runway in the newly-built airstrip. According to the same mission, the other has been covered by camouflage nets.

The Government has already acquired evidence, supported by satellite imagery that the new airstrip had been built in a vast open area near Kilinochchi during the period of the ceasefire. The Ceasefire Agreement will be three years old on Tuesday. It is also in possession of photographs that contain runway markings and lights positioned alongside.

The Sunday Times learnt that India has also sought information about the new LTTE airstrip as well as on their acquisition of air capability. This is said to be on the grounds that such a move ccould pose security concerns particularly to southern India.

It was during the tenure of the ceasefire that President Kumaratunga took over the defence, mass communication and interior ministry portfolios on November 4, 2003. Though it was on the grounds that the previous United National Front (UNF) Government allowed national security to deteriorate, it is very clear from the recent events that nothing tangible had been done.

One of the major compulsions for the takeover then was the Tiger guerrilla military build-up in the district of Trincomalee, details of which were exclusively revealed in The Sunday Times. Concerns were raised to such heights that some of the Government leaders even appealed to the then Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) Government in India for help to deal with what was described as a very dangerous situation. Thereafter, Parliamentary elections were held in April last year and the UPFA Government came into power. But the issue soon came to be forgotten.

Since then, Tiger guerrillas continued to develop their military infrastructure in the Trincomalee district. Of particular significance became the build-up in the Sampur area, just overlooking the Trincomalee harbour. This was revealed exclusively in The Sunday Times (Situation Report - July 25, 2004). Gun positions along the coast, just facing the harbour mouth area, became a serious threat.

So much so the Commander of the Navy (and now in addition Chief of Defence Staff) Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri raised concerns with then Secretary to Ministry of Defence, retired Police Chief Cyril Hearth. The latter lodged a protest then with the SLMM but the matter has since died down. This is despite accusations that the previous UNF regime was responsible for such a disturbing situation.

But the LTTE's construction of a new airstrip and the acquisition of air capability became a reality only during the tenure of the UPFA Government. If work had begun earlier, the completion of a runway with a hangar and the acquisition of light aircraft would have gone unnoticed had it not been for a chance discovery by satellite imagery and the UAVs.

It is only thereafter that alarm bells were triggered off in the defence and security establishments. At least one state intelligence agency now believes that preparations to equip the airstrip had been going on while the then UNF regime held peace talks with the LTTE. Their suspicions are based on some significant confessions made by former LTTE strongman and renegade Eastern leader, Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan alias Karuna. Whilst in "protective custody" he told those who debriefed him of how some radar spares were brought into the country in several packages. This was when he and other members of the LTTE delegation returned after a round of peace talks in Bangkok, Thailand. He also disclosed that he once carried to Bangkok a list of equipment and handed it over to an associate of the elusive Kumaran Pathmanathan or KP. The latter, most wanted by several foreign intelligence agencies, heads the LTTE's overseas procurement unit.

This intelligence agency believes the radar parts smuggled in packages were later assembled together. When the arrival of these packages, which were cleared without any checks, was highlighted in The Sunday Times, top UNF leaders made threats against those who made the exposure. Now, sources in this intelligence agency say such radars were placed at strategic points along the coast. The tsunami had damaged some of them. "There is reason to believe some of the radars and equipment that were smuggled were installed at the airstrip," a source from the agency who spoke on grounds of anonymity said.

The latest to raise issue over the LTTE's acquisition of air capability was Jayantha Dhanapala, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat. During a meeting with the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), Wagn Winkel, acting Head, he placed details. As is the practice, the SLMM has assured an investigation. However, the question remains whether its members will receive access to the areas where the airstrip is located. This is because the LTTE has declared the area a "no-go zone." Dr. Dhanapala meets the SLMM on Mondays and Fridays every week.

Earlier, the issue was also raised with the SLMM by Defence Secretary, retired Major General Asoka Jayawardena. Here again an assurance has been given that the complaint would be investigated. In fact, Mr. Winkel is learnt had already taken up the matter with the LTTE during a meeting with their Political Wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan two weeks ago. The task now falls on the shoulders of Haagrup Haukland, the friendly and pro-active former deputy who has been named acting Head of the SLMM.

The move comes as Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar has been engaged in shuttle diplomacy talking to Government officials and LTTE leaders. This is to set up a joint mechanism to share relief supplies to tsunami-devastated areas coming under Tiger guerrilla control. Contrary to reports that the two sides are on the verge of an agreement, a number of thorny issues are yet to be ironed out.

In this backdrop, there is likely to be other significant developments in the coming week. This is when Norway's Special Envoy Erik Solheim arrives in Colombo tomorrow. He will fly to Kilinochchi on Tuesday. Through him the LTTE is to raise serious concerns with the Government over the situation that has arisen following the death of Ilayathambi Lingarajah alias Kaushalyan. The LTTE is accusing the security forces backed by a paramilitary group of carrying out the murder - a charge which the Government has flatly rejected.

According to LTTE sources, their Political Wing leader Mr. Thamilselvan is due to meet his "national leader," Velupillai Prabhakaran, during the weekend to discuss the response. Whether it is just rhetoric or not is unclear. But Mr. Thamilselvan said during his speech at the funeral of Kaushalyan in Thandiyadi near Batticaloa: "despite various acts of provocation, the LTTE is observing peace at much cost. Today, our people and fighters are on the brink of patience. We would soon prove our might."

There were strong indications yesterday that the LTTE may place fresh demands on the Government. That is expected to include one to take immediate steps to disband paramilitary groups.

This is by enforcing 1.8 of the Ceasefire Agreement which states: "Tamil paramilitary groups shall be disarmed by the GOSL by D-day + 30 days at the latest. The GOSL shall offer to integrate individuals in these units under the command and disciplinary structure of the GOSL armed forces for service away from the Northern and Eastern Provinces."

During talks Mr. Solheim held in London, Anton Balasingham, LTTE chief peace negotiator and ideologue had already made the request. Another demand is said to be an assurance on the safety of guerrilla cadres moving in and around Government-controlled areas.

These developments come as some top level changes in the Army and the Navy have become the focal point of attention in the security establishment. In the Army, at least five Majors General are expected to go on retirement two of them after completing 55 years - the age of retirement. The other three, however, are yet to reach their retirement age. In the Navy, two senior Rear Admirals are due for retirement next month. Hindering an extended term to the service of three Majors General is a policy decision which President Kumaratunga chose to adopt last year.

Following a recommendation by an official Committee last year, President Kumaratunga directed that, a third extension in service will not be granted under any circumstances to those holding the rank of Major General.

This follows her decision to accept the recommendations of a Committee which proposed a scheme for granting of extensions to officers of the armed forces. The committee was headed by G.P. Abeykoon, Additional Secretary, Office of the Cabinet of Ministers and comprised B.G. Karunaratne, Director General of Establishments, Sunil Sirisena, Senior Assistant Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Major General Jayantha Ranaweera (since retired from the Army), Commodore Tissera Samarasinghe (Navy) and Air Vice Marshal R. Arunthavanathan, Air Force.

Among other matters, their recommendations in respect of Brigadiers, Majors General in the Army and their equivalent ranks in the Navy and Air Force were as follows:

"The Committee does not recommend granting of extensions beyond the maximum period of time specified for each Rank as a matter of policy, However, the Committee is of the view that there may be instances where granting of extensions would be necessary when the expertise and experience of a particular officer is extremely essential for smooth functioning of the organisation.

"Therefore, the Committee recommends granting of an extension of one (01) year beyond the maximum period to such an officer in Rank equivalent to Brigadier and above. This should not be commonly applicable to all in such Ranks. Second extension for a further period of one year should only be considered in respect of officers of the Rank of Major General and above. However, such instances should be confined to exceptional circumstances where services of such an officer is indispensable due to essential rare technical expertise or when considered for the position of a Service Commander. A third extension should not be granted under any circumstances."

The recommendations of this official committee became Government policy. This was after W.J.S. Karunaratne, Secretary to the President, wrote to the Commanders of the Army, Navy and Air Force on May 7, last year, stating that "I write to inform, that the above Report (title given) has been approved by Her Excellency the President."

But there are indications that the policy on granting extensions to those holding the rank of Major General and above may change. An advisory Committee headed by former Defence Secretary, Chandrananda de Silva has opined that restrictions should not be placed on the right of the Commander-in-Chief to determine the extensions of services of senior military officers who are deemed essential. This came about when the committee was asked to study the request for extended terms of three Majors General who are due to retire.

They are Deputy Chief of Staff Major General Susil Chandrapala (date of birth: October 30, 1950) on February 28, Major General Nanda Mallawaratchchi (date of birth: August 3, 1951) on March 28 and Major General Sarath Fonseka (Date of birth: December 12, 1950) on April 4.

Whilst making clear its views on extended terms, the committee has noted that the discretion of granting the extended terms should be the remain right of the President. The other members of the Committee are former Defence Secretary Cyril Herath, Air Marshal (retd) Pathman Mendis (a former Commander of the Air Force), Rear Admiral (retd.) Basil Gunasekera (a former Commander of the Air Force) and Chandra Wickremasinghe, former Sri Lanka Ambassador to France.

President Kumaratunga is yet to formally decide on the case of the three Majors General. Two more - Major General Lal Fernando (attached to Army Headquarters) will retire on March 29. Major General Gamini Jayasundera (currently Quarter Master General at Army Headquarters) is due to retire on April 4 upon reaching 55 years. He is tipped to be posted as Defence Attache in the Sri Lanka Embassy in Washington, the first time such a high ranking officer is to take up such a post.

In the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrema, Chief of Staff and Rear Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda, Commander, Western Naval Area were to end their first annual extension next month. Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri had recommended a further year's extension. The Sunday Times learns that their extensions had been granted by President Kumaratunga though Navy Headquarters is yet to receive official intimation.

Both in the political and the defence fronts, some significant developments could be expected in the coming weeks.

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