What was that big noise? It was the LTTE aircraft

By Hiran Priyankara Puttalam Correspondent

Villagers and homegurads at Olumaduwa, a village bordering the Wilpattu National Park in the Puttalam district claim they spotted the two LTTE light aircraft on their southward flight to attack the Katunayake air base.

They claim that the two aircraft were flying about 500 to 600 feet above ground level with a roaring noise which is usually not heard from other aircraft.

They say as they spotted the craft they had a suspicion that they could be those of the LTTE but it was only the following morning that they heard about the attack. Their statements have been recorded by teams investigating the Katunayake attack.

Sarath Rajakaruna, a vegetable seller said he had just returned home little after midnight on Sunday when he heard a loud sound similar to that of a land master tractor.

“When I rushed out of the house and looked up I noticed a small aircraft which was closely followed by another. I told myself it must be the Air Force although I had a slight doubt,” he said.

A villager Susima Senarath recounting the sighting said she heard a sound coming from the Wilpattu jungles and then saw two planes flying very low.

Another Villager Galpiti Gamini said he was watching a film on TV when he heard the loud sound. “The craft were flying so low that I thought to myself that they could be shot down merely with the use of a T-56 ,” he said.