Jungle Telegraph

6th December 1998

‘Fat Albert’ deal

The defence estab lishment appears elated over the recent US $ 12.5 million deal to procure three Hercules C 130 from the Royal Air Force in UK for use by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Both Defence Ministry and diplomatic sources confirm that it is a direct Government to Government deal with no middle men (and hence no commissions) involved. To prove the point, British officials have offered to produce to the Government documentary confirmation that all the moneys involved have been received by the authorities concerned.

The C-130 Hercules, nicknamed affectionately “Fat Albert” by users in the RAF is currently the world’s most successful medium military transport and has been produced longer than any other aircraft in history.

The three SLAF,C1 30s will acquire are former tankers now being re-furbished. A comprehensive package to train pilots and crew has also been worked out.

There was also good news for the Sri Lanka Navy this week. For the first time, they have become the proud owners of a Hovercraft this week.

Air threat

Reports that the LTTE has acquired air capability has prompted the Ministry of Defence to adopt a series of counter measures. For obvious reasons one cannot spell out the measures excpet to add that it would cover both VIPs and key installations.

Chalet in Wanni

Is a top man in uniform building a beautiful chalet somewhere in the Wanni ?

Insiders say he worked out the plans and construction work is already under way.

Usually, he would have had to go through procedures which would include approval from higher commands.

But, in this case, they claim that the man is using PRI funds – moneys meant for soldier rations and welfare. Petitions are already going around.

Bitten by snake

A young man sus pected to be an LTTE spy leader fell into the hands of the security force in the most unbelievable way in Jaffna last week.

Plainclothes intelligence sleuths were trailing the man after evidence surfaced that he was key member of the Tiger intelligence wing. They followed him.

The young man was bitten by a snake and went screaming into a house. Sleuths thought it was time to take him into custody. He is now under interrogation.

Transport problem

Transport problems have set a poser to UN experts now in Sri Lanka to help defuse land mines in the Jaffna peninsula.

Diplomatic sources say they were examining bringing in their own aircraft or a Hovercraft to ensure their mobility to and from Jaffna. That of course is after approval is granted by the Ministry of Defence.

Editorial/Opinion Contents