Tiger guerrillas infiltrated the inner security forces defences at Olumadu (on the Mankulam - Mullaitive Road) last Friday to launch an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) attack on an SLAF MI 17 helicopter.
It caught fire and is a total wreck.
At least one pilot was injured seriously and an airman was reported missing. The MI 17 was on a routine food supply detail when the incident occurred.
And now comes the news that the SLAF is to fly out a two-member team to Ukraine.
Insiders say their mission is to procure more MI 17s.
The suppliers? - Well, well. They have good political and business connections!
For many years now, the administration and control of islands off the Jaffna peninsula have remained in the hands of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP). These areas have been out of bounds for the Security Forces and the Police.
Little wonder the EPDP considers these areas a closely guarded domain.
So much so, when an EPRLF candidate for the forthcoming local polls and a group of supporters went by boat to Delft to canvass, the group was ordered to make a hasty retreat.
Army Commander, Lt. Gen, Rohan de S. Daluwatte, has named Major General Janaka Perera, as the new General Officer Commanding (GOC) Army’s 23 Division headquarters in Batticaloa.
He succeeds Brigadier Nihal Marambe, who has been named Deputy Commander, Operations Colombo.
The appointments take effect from January 1.
Friendly scribes who were transported from Colombo by the hush man for the big passing out event of the flying boys were furious.
The PR man succeeded in pulling off a good story, at least in the official organ. It said the boys fed 10,000 visitors, mostly next of kin, who turned up to mark the event.
The move infuriated some of the scribes. It’s not because the turn out was much less than a 1000.
They were doled out a bun and a banana for breakfast! As for lunch, the little said the better. So much for propaganda.
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