2001 airport airbase attack report remains unpublished

By Chandani Kirinde

A better radar system was among the recommendations made by the Presidential Commission appointed to inquire into the last LTTE attack on the Katunayake International Airport and the Air Base in July 2001, but the contents of this report remain unpublished though it was handed over to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga in 2002, The Sunday Times learns.

Experts appointed by the commission had visited the site of the attacks and had inquired into security lapses. All these had been included in the comprehensive report that had been submitted.

It is learnt that in addition to recommending a better radar system, the report had also called for strengthened ground security to prevent further attacks. The possibility of an air attack had also been dealt with.

As the report had not been published as a sessional paper, which has to be done at the discretion of the President, the contents of the report are yet to be made public.

The Commission was appointed by President Kumaratunga included Justice D. Jayawickrama (Chairman), Retired Judge of the Court of Appeal and former Air Force Commander, Air Vice Marshal P.H Mendis.