Anatomy of Tiger Assault on Anuradhapura Air Force Base
October 27th, 2007
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
There are two sayings in Tamil about the four – legged tiger or “puli” . One is “Puli pathunguvathu paaivathatku” (The tiger crouches only to pounce).
The other is “Puli pasithaalum pullai thinnaathu” (Even if hungry tigers do not eat grass).
The essence of this proverbial wisdom can be applied to the two – legged tigers too. Past history of The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) demonstrates that.
If the LTTE is unusually quiet for a while people suspect that the tigers are plotting a surprise operation. A sudden strike is imminent it is felt. Likewise however much the tigers are hard – pressed the LTTE does not give up or change its policies easily.
It is against this backdrop that last week’s audacious assault by the LTTE on the Sri Lanka Air Force base at Anuradhapura needs to be viewed.
Recent events led to an impression that the LTTE was on the decline . Aggressive propaganda by the Rajapakse regime contributed greatly to this opinon being moulded.
The tigers had lost the East completely; they gave up Mannar South without a fight;they were hard – pressed on multiple fronts in the North having to face limited millitary offensives continuously;tiger controlled areas were being regularly bombed and shelled and claims were being made that LTTE targets were severely hit ; Colombo and other areas in the South were quiet and memory of past tiger operations were waning; coordinated action by several western governments against key tiger activists was constricting fund raising abroad ; successful strikes by the navy against LTTE ships were being regularly reported.
In such a situation the Government of Sri Lanka’s (GOSL) boasts that the tigers were on their last legs found many believers.Some observers of the LTTE – including this writer – found it difficult to accept this dominant line of thought. The tigers were down but certainly not out they stated. It was only a matter of time before the LTTE launched a counter – offensive or counter – strike they felt.
This prediction came true on Monday October 22nd!
Twenty – One black tiger commandoes engaged in a nocturnal assault on the Air Force base at Saliyapura, Anuradhapura. They dominated the base for nearly eight hours and destroyed several aircraft. In what was described as a co-ordinated land and air attack two planes of the LTTE’s nascent air force dropped bombs too. 14 security forces and all 21 tigers were killed.The greatest casualty was the image propagated by the GOSL that the LTTE was a spent force!
The tigers are engaged in asymmetrical warfare against the GOSL security forces. The LTTE is at a disadvantage vis a vis the GOSL in manpower, airpower, seapower, firepower, armour power etc. Given this imbalance the tigers would prefer to fight a defensive war rather than go on the offensive. What is important for the LTTE is the retention of some territory at least as a “rear “base. But the security forces are knocking at the gates. So the tigers need to conduct some guerilla strikes at least and reduce the military threat.
With this overall objective in mind , LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabakharan , has set in motion plans for many military projects. Preparations were – and are – on for several guerilla operations. One such strike was “Operation Ellalan” named after the Tamil monarch who reigned in Anuradhapura for 44 years .
A group of twenty – five “black tigers” were given specialised training for the “operation Ellalan” project for nearly six months. The squad studied maps and models of the Saliyapura Air base without being told it was at Anuradhapura. Elaborate reconnaissance missions known as “recce” had gone on for more than a year. Information and knowledge had been carefully gathered, processed, checked and confirmed.Attack motions were carefully rehearsed and simulation exercises conducted.
This team of black tigers was put together from different branches of the LTTE. They had all volunteered to become “Karumpuligal” (panthers) or suicide cadres. After being selected for a specific mission the black tigers are given specific training required for the particular mission. The “Ellalan operation” cadres got training at a secret location of the Lt. Col Rayan academy for tiger special forces. The project co-ordinator was a senior leader whose nom de guerre is Kalaikone.
21 of the 25 were picked as the final team after training was over. Tiger leader Prabakharan met the team for a meal in the second week of October. He posed for photos with the cadres destined for death. The photos are released after the operation is over. Usually LTTE cadres are promoted post- humously.
But in a departure from this practice black tigers are told of their posthumous promotions and given their new ranks while alive. This may be a method to enthuse cadres and attract more volunteers for the black tigers.
The pseudonyms, real names, new ranks and their districts of origin are stated below:
Lt. Col. Veeman (K. Pratheepan) from Trincomalee , Captain Panchaseelan (S.Kajendran) from Batticaloa ,Major Kanikkeethan (R. Kandasamy) from Batticaloa ,Lt. Col. Ilangko (R. Paheerathan) from Jaffna ,Major Mathivathanan (B. Thayaaseelan) from Jaffna ,Captain Puradchi (S. Thanushan) from Jaffna ,Major Supan (K. Jeevakanthan) from Jaffna , Major Ilampuli (T. Kalairaj) from Jaffna , Captain Pukazhmani (T. Puvaneasvaran) from Jaffna ,Captain Eezhaththeavan (T. Moasikaran) from Jaffna ,Major Ezhilinpan (V. Pirapaharan) from Jaffna ,Captain Pulimannan (K. Nanthakumar) from Jaffna , Captain Senthooran (K. Thinesh) from Jaffna , Lt. Arun (P. Thivaakaran) from Jaffna ,Captain Eezhappiriya (K. Keethanchali) from Jaffna , Capatain Arivumalar (S. Uthaya) from Jaffna ,Captain Tharmini (K. Nirmala) from Ki’linochchi ,Major Kaavalan (S. Saththiyan) from Ki’linochchi ,Captain Karuveanthan (M. Satheeskumaar) from Ki’linochchi , Captain Anpukkathir (V. Thileepkumar) from Mullaiththeevu and Captain Subesan (N. Maharaj) from Mannaar .
The mission commander was Paheerathan alias Ilango. His deputy was Pratheepan alias Veeman. Three of the squad were girls. Thirteen of the team were from Jaffna, three from Kilinochchi, two from Batticaloa and one each from Trincomalee, Mannar and Mullaitheevu districts. The senior most cadre was the squad’s commander Lt. Col Ilango who was 26 years old. He had joined the LTTE in 1995 and had participated in more than a dozen major battles including those of “Jayasikurui”. The junior was 17 year old Lt. Arun who was recruited in early 2006.
The black tiger team was asked to write letters to their loved ones on October 9th. These letters would be given to family members only after the operation was over. When family members read the “last” letters the person who wrote that epistle would not be among the living. The families would not have prior knowledge that their loved one had embarked on a black tiger mission.
Once D- day was finalised the black tigers would start off on their secret mission. Usually they would be accompanied and even guided by the intelligence wing members up to a point. Those involved in reconnaissance would take them to their destination and lodge them in “safehouses” for a while. They would have travelled lightly and would receive supplies and be given their arsenal shortly before H- hour.
It is believed that the “Operation Ellalan” squad travelled through jungle areas of Mannar – Wilpattu – Tantrimale -Anuradhapura etc to reach their target destination. Kajendran alias Panchaseelan was reportedly responsible for guiding his colleagues through jungle routes . Apparently he had travelled those routes earlier as preparation. Omanthai the norther province entry – exit point between GOSL and LTTE areas is about 60 km away from Anuuradhapura. The Saliyapura Air Force base is about 4 km from Anuradhapura city.
It is not clear as to where the tigers stayed in Anuradhapura prior to the attack. It is suspected that they used the grand “Gajaba Cross” motor show to mingle with nearly 100, 000 spectators who converged in Anuradhapura on Sunday October 21st. They had then allegedly proceeded from the Pillaiyar junction towards Nuwarawewa and reportedly walked by the tank bund. It is suspected that the black tigers hid themselves in a patch of shrub jungle bordering a small coconut grove before zooming on to their target.
It was around 2. 20 – 30 am in the early hours of Monday morning that the tiger squad crossed the Nelumkulama road and arrived at the North – Eastern side of the base.There is a three – tiered barbed wire fence. The outer and inner wires are quite thick while the thinner middle wire is electrified. The tigers cut through all three and entered without being electrocuted.. Apparently the power supply to the electric fence had been turned off earlier. Why this happened remains a suspicious mystery!
There was also a system of sound mines installed alongside the paths and also at strategic points. The tigers however seemed to know everything and swiftly de- commissioned them. Expansion work was on at the runway and mounds of earth and sand were heaped at a particular spot. The squad took cover behind those mounds and also moved their arsenal there. This spot became their field headquarters.
This arsenal consisted of T-56 ’s, Rocket propelled grenade launchers. Light Anti – tank weapons. multi – purpose machine guns, light machine guns, handgrenades etc. There was also a communications wireless operated by Thayalaseelan alias Mathivathanan. The black tigers used cellular phones to communicate among themselves during the operation.
The Anuradhapura air base is strategically important for a number of reasons. The biggest pilot training school is set up there. The aerial surveillance headquarters is also there.The base is home to the first flying training wing squadron; the sixth and seventh transport and training helicopter squadrons;the ninth attack helicopter squadron, the 11th UAV “drone” squadron and the 14th aerial surveillance squadron.
Several types of aircraft like the Beechcraft 200, RQ – 2 pioneer and IAI Scout Unmanned Aerial vehicles are kept here. These are used for Reconnaissance and maritime patrol; Mi 24 and Mi 35 “Hind” attack helicopters as well as Mi 17 and Bell 206 helicopters used for transport,training and logistic support are also stationed here. There also K – 8 Karakorum, Cessna 150 and Nanchang CJ6 primary training aircraft (PT6).
After the LTTE’s airwing sprouted wings the Anuradhapura air base gained greater importance. An elaborate radar system capable of monitoring the Northern skies and north – eastern seas has been installed. The Beechcraft is also of great utility value being capable of staying in the skies for marathon hours to monitor the seas. The Navy has benefited immensely. Anuradhapura base was the aerial surveillance headquarters apart from providing basic pilot training and also limited advanced training. It was also logistically important to ferry men and materials to and from the Mannar, Vavuniya and Weli – Oya/Manalaaru battlefronts.
With these strategic objectives in mind the tigers got to work. Zero hour was 3 am. The LTTE broke up into two main teams and began operations. Though the overall commander was Illango he headed a 7 member team. The second in command Veeman led a 14 member team. Both teams broke into smaller groups to implement specific duties.
The top priority was to mop up the four sentry points and two guard posts. This was done quickly. Thereafter the radar surveillance unit was seized and neutralised. The communications room was also knocked out.The other objective was to seize control of the air defence system and artillery units. Two 40 mm ,two 23mm artillery guns were seized . The 12.7 m anti aircraft guns were also taken. In 20 minutes the artillery and anti – aircraft guns , radars, communications and guard posts – sentry points were all taken over.
By this time sleeping airforce personnel were alarmed and began retaliating. There had been heavy partying on Sunday night due to the Gajaba cross motoring event and also because base commandant , Group captain Priyantha Gunasinghe was on the eve of retirement. Another diversion was the “Sri Laka Idol” program on Sirasa TV. Still airmen began responding bravely.
LTTE snipers climbed trees and began sniping at the elevated watchtower and command and control tower Flight Lt. Ruwan Kumara Wijeratna was killed near the tower. An Armoured Personnel carrier moved in blazing. A tiger cadre fired an anti – tank weapon at point blank range hitting the gunner and damaging the APC.
The three girls Eezhapriya, Arivumalar and Tharmini were trained in artillery. They took over the big guns and began firing them. Eehapriya apparently was a gunner of great ability. A tiger trio set up cut – out points at key positions and engaged in covering fire. Two tiger formations began to move into the hangars and destroy the helicopters , fixed wing aircraft and also the UAV drones. At least eight aircraft were totally demolished. Another nine were extensively damaged. Ten other aircraft damaged partially are in working condition.
Meanwhile the LTTE “control” in the Wanni was regularly informed of developments. Once it became known that the radars were knocked out and air defence system neutralised ,two small planes of the LTTE’s fledgling air wing started out from the Wanni. The airforce personnel saw the planes as they came close but were helpless as the anti – aircraft gun could not be used. The aircraft too could not be flown.
At this point of time A’pura base commandant informed Vavuniya commander Maj – Gen Upali Edirisinghe of the situation and tiger planes. Two Bell 212 helicopters set out from Vavuniya but friendly fire from a military camp in Mihintale hit one copter which crashed down at Doramadalawa about 11 km away from the Saliyapura airbase. All four crew were killed. The other copter turned back.
LTTE planes flew in and dropped two bombs each. One fell near the airbase hangar. The other three were dropped around the nearby army camp housing Gajaba regiment troops. One fell on a billet. One fell on the parapet wall surrounding a school and one fell on a field killing about 12 buffaloes. The idea apparently was to target the army camp and prevent soldiers coming to the aid of the airmen.
But the soldiers upon hearing of the tiger attack had set out from camp but were unable to do much because of the night’s darkness. They could not fire indiscriminately for fear of hitting the airmen. But the soldiers took up positions in the general area outside the camp and virtually surrounded it.
The bombing by tiger planes did not make any significant contribution to the assault on the air base apart from deterring troop movement for some time. Its symbolic effect however was immense. Taking possession of an air base. neutralising anti – aircraft guns and then bringing two planes to drop bombs over the very same base is well and truly an exercise of audacity.
The LTTE was showing that their nascent air force was still active and that the Sri Lankan security forces were incapable of restricting its movements in spite of boastful claims. The Lankan air force base was attacked by the Tamil Eelam air force was the message sought to be conveyed. Most media reports refer to the assault as a Land and Air co-ordinated attack. There was also confusion that the air attack preceded the ground attack.
A handful of tiger guerillas not only caused much destruction but also fought resolutely for nearly eight hours in the midst of the base. Two Gajaba special force contingents led by Major Chandimal Peiris and Capt Kosala Munasinghe arrived at daybreak at the base. Once the SF got into action the tide began to turn against the tigers.
The black tiger operational leader Lt. Col Ilango succumbed to injuries and died at 8. 30 am. At about 9 am Maj. Mathivathanan was killed. With that communication between the Wanni and combat zone ended. The fighting began subsiding gradually and finally ended at about 11. 30 am. Six tigers including the No two Lt. Col Veeman blew themselves up at the end. The Airbase was cleared of tigers who were in action for nearly eight hours. All 21 black tigers courted death as destined.
Wing Commander Amila Mohotti, Squadron Leader Ruwan Wijeratne, Flight Lieutenant A.B.M.Silva, Flying Officer S.R.Siyambalapitiya, Warrant Officer KPS Dayaratne, Corporal M.P.W. Deegalla, Corporal W.M.Warnakulasuriya, Corporal .M.W.Dissanayake, Corporal E.P.N. Dayaratne, Corporal Preethikumara, Lance Corporal H.E.N.D.Fernando, Lance Corporal Gunawardane of the Air Force and Lance Corporal R.J.S. Ratnayake of Gajaba Regiment of the Army paid the supreme sacrifice during the incident.
[Members of Sri Lanka's Air Force march at a funeral procession of wing commander Amila Mohotti in Kurunagala, north central Sri Lanka, October 26, 2007 - Reuters Via Yahoo! News Pic: Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi]
Four of them died in a helicopter crash when it was rushing to help fighting troops at the base. One more Airman of the Air Force, Sergeant Asvedduma breathed his last late monday (22) night while being treated at Anuradhapura hospital after he was admitted with severe injuries. Accordingly, fourteen brave men of the Armed Forces perished as a result of the incident. A total of twenty two members of the Armed Forces are still receiving treatment in hospitals. About fifty – five are classified as walking wounded.
A large number of aircraft were destroyed or damaged. Peter Foster the Colombo correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” of London has reported that the Black Tigers destroyed an expensive Beechcraft surveillance plane worth £14 million, two Mi17 helicopters, two Mi24 helicopters, three unmanned aerial vehicles, a K-8 jet and eight trainer aircraft.
The LTTE however says “officially” that only eight aircraft were destroyed. Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan the LTTE defence spokesperson explained this discrepancy to a Tamil journalist by saying that they had lost communication with the attack squad at 9 am. At that time eight was the figure. He said that subsequently more damage was done. It is indeed a strange situation when the LTTE claims a low figure while sections of the media and opposition quote a much higher figure.
The LTTE is exploiting the attack and sacrifice for propaganda purposes. Major Mathivathanan was given a special post-humous promotion and made Lt. Colonel. Ceremonies paying tribute to the twenty one “martyrs” were conducted in many parts of the Wanni. Incidently one of the black tiger bodies was not recovered as it was very badly mangled. The 20 recovered bodies were paraded in a naked state by the Anuradhapura Police and buried.
[LTTE cadres and civilians paying homage to the Black Tigers in Ki'linochchi - Photo: LTTEPS]
Let me conclude by quoting from a recent article on the attack by B. Raman, retired additional cabinet secretary of India. Raman is by no means an acolyte of the LTTE and has often criticised the tigers severely. This is what he had to say:
” Reliable details of the combined air and land attack launched by the LTTE on the Anuradhapura air base of the Sri Lankan Air Force early in the morning of October 22, 2007, indicate that it was neither an act of desperation as projected by the embarrassed Sri Lankan military spokesmen nor an act of needless dramatics as suggested by others. It was an act of unbelievable determination, bravery and precision successfully carried out by a 21-member suicide commando group of the Black Tigers-significantly led by a Tamil from the Eastern Province-with the back-up support of two planes of the so-called Tamil Eelam Air Force. ”
” Reliable Western sources say that no other terrorist organisation in the world would have been capable of organising such a raid, which had been preceded by painstaking intelligence collection, planning and rehearsal. The commandoes, divided into groups, infiltrated into the air base from two directions and, within 20 minutes, took the security guards by surprise, overwhelmed them, seized their weapons and communication equipment, neutralised a radar and an anti-aircraft gun position and then intimated their headquarters that they were in effective control of the air base. Only then the two aircraft of the LTTE’s air wing flew to Anuradhapura and dropped two bombs on the base and flew back safely to their hide-out.”
” The successful operation would seem to have been launched by the LTTE in retaliation for the recent operations of the Sri Lankan Navy against the transport ships of the LTTE and the air strikes of the SLAF over LTTE positions in the Northern Province. It once again underlines the LTTE’s reputation as an organisation with a tremendous tenacity of purpose, grit and sophistication in thinking and planning. Its recent set-backs have not weakened its morale. They have only redoubled its determination to keep fighting for its political objective unmindful of the losses in the Eastern Province.
Related: In the Aftermath of the A’Pura Attack
DBS Jeyaraj can be contacted on: djeyaraj@federalidea.com
Entry Filed under: transCurrents
39 Comments Add your own
1. Antony chelva | October 27th, 2007 at 6:25 pm
I BOW down to Black tiger’s SUPREME sacrifice. They not Humans…..they are beyond that….No word can describe thier bravity. They will go down in history like Kumarappa company and Thileeban.
Black Tigers are the Best Soldiers in the world. In a matter of minutes they can destroy the Gurkha regiment with similar men and arsenal power. SIngala UNCIVILISED soldiers have no chance against them.
Its funny how DBS trying to defend the Singala soldiers by saying the Tigers dead remanins were made naked by SL police. Everyone seen the pictures. PLS DBS go n look those pictures again. “SUPREME sacrifice” by singala soldiers? Wata joke. NO soldiers whos willing to SUpremenly sacrifice themselves will ever do such a barberic act of making the enemies dead remains naked.
While Sons of ELLALAN died with HONOR, SOns of dutagaimunu shown their uncilised behaviour by making the enemy’s dead remains naked. WAta uncivilised low life Singala forces.
Black tigers shed their blood in the same soil where legendery Chola Ellalan shed his blood and died with HONOR. War is just started………GLOVES are OFF…
2. dravidan | October 27th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Dear DBJ,
I read all your articles no matter what stands you take.
However, I am dissapointed on this article because you did not finish the writing with your own thoughts… instead you concluded by quoting from a recent article on the attack by B. Raman …
What was the need for that?
Are you not in a possition; to openly pen about such a bravery and precisise operation by the boys. I see many forums not interested disscussing about this attack (lanka academic, etc) why simply they cannot take the defeat is it…?
What I want to say finally is god was with those boys in their last hour. Tamils will find their just
3. whoever | October 27th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
yea we all have a right to make a comment
what about those 21 who died ?
4. Kannan Saravanan | October 28th, 2007 at 12:37 am
Mahinda & Co. must have realized by this time that the wars of the future will not look much like wars of the past.
Sinhala Goliath will never be able to tame the Tamil [Tiger] David.
Mahinda & Co.’s evil forces stripped the bodies of our brothers and sisters killed in the devastated attack and put them on public display. This is an act of petty vindictiveness which shames every one of the Sinhala polity, all the more because it was committed in the crucible of ancient Sinhala civilisation, in the very city where King Dutugemunu set an example to all posterity of how members of a great civilisation treat their fallen enemies.
Shame on them!
5. Ravana | October 28th, 2007 at 12:43 am
#1 Antony chelva – Why dont you sacrifice your self along with family for your cause (conscript your mother and father if you have any poor souls). I’d really like to see yours ripped apart like the rest just to prove that you love uncle Prabha. Wouldn’t you like to see their head, hands and legs all torn apart. Dont talk rubbish! (But im sure you would like to see them in that state wouldnt you?)
Yes, indeed. The war had started. You and your sadistic group of leaders are just causing genocide on your own kind.
You are probably some person who just talks the talk but cant walk to walk. Hows the heater at your home in London/Toronto? Winter is getting close is it? Come down here and if you have the guts, join your black tigers.
Or are you AFRAID of death your self?
6. GA | October 28th, 2007 at 12:46 am
They are professional soldiers of High Caliber ad Operation Ellalan was a Pure Military Operation. There is no question of Terrorism and not surprisingly no country has condemned,
7. Chennai Analyst | October 28th, 2007 at 1:19 am
Good article by DBS Sir. It was a Sooper adi given by Puligal.
21 people sacrificed themselves to protect the Tamil honour. How long could the Tamils continue to take the Kuttus give by the coward Sinhalas? Time to give back to the bullies! After all Tamils are being wiped out as a race by Sinhalas abetted by the Hindians! Many call Piraba a ‘Terrorist’, but what about the Singalas? It is state sponsored Terrorism on the Tamils. Even the UN has condemned the slaughter of innocent Tamils! The UN has been called ‘Terrorist’ by the coward Racist Singalas! Hillary Clinton and Bill have been following Sri Lanka very closely of late! Bill in private expressed outrage when he was not allowed to visit the NE after the Tsunami!
It appears Deepavali arrived 2 weeks early for the Diaspora!
Even ex-RAW man Raman, has praised the operation! The sleepy Singalas never knew what hit them! This operation reminded me of Entebbe when the Israelis hammered Idi Amin!
Simply put, i would put 10 to1 Puligal over the Israelis! Maybe Israelis need Puligal as Advisers when they take out Iran’s reactors which is going to happen soon!
Post 9/11 Puligal have been careful not to hit any civilian targets, unlike the Singalas! Piraba has something more on the cards! In Sri Lanka’s 60th year after Independence, will the Tamils get theirs! Goat-Baya will soon run to his 7-11 Gas station in US! Fonseka too! Sri Lanka’s economy will be doomed!
8. Chaminda | October 28th, 2007 at 2:54 am
LTTE must understand this kind of attack will not affect any current situations in Srilanka..we will get those planes in fewer months..but for them it is the lost of their special squad….previously they attacked kattunayakae and destroyed MIGs and Kifirs but after that we got more MIGs and Kfirs…but for them they are lost the number of their terrorists..we have enough people and money to carry this war more than 100 years but for LTTE..? the population of Tamil community is going down and the ability to collect money in Western country shrinks means they can’t run a war effectivly in another 100 years this means one day we “SINHALEESE” will win this war…
9. Zona | October 28th, 2007 at 5:07 am
Bow down to the greatest warriors. No nation has condemned this attack. In fact all analysts are left in amazement. This is the way to go LTTE.
10. r.veera | October 28th, 2007 at 5:14 am
Dbs be proud to be Tamil, you dont need to fight for loosing course( united srilanka ). You will see sinhala barbaric force kill innocent tamils in future and claim ltte.
I salute heroic black tigers for sacrificing their life.
We tamils must unite and eject sinhala barbarians from our belove land.
11. nathan | October 28th, 2007 at 8:00 am
Dear Anthony Chelva,
I say “Amen” to all what you have stated.
12. Murloo | October 28th, 2007 at 8:47 am
It is not the Tigers who got striped naked it is The sri lanken government and all the south stand naked before the World to see them bared.
We have los the best of best.
13. ilaya seran senguttuven | October 28th, 2007 at 10:23 am
I share your thoughts the flower of our youth resources – on both sides of the divide – is being sacrificed in this senseless war.
Your beautiful sequence of photographs titled “Pride and Elegance” by Renuka Perera made available in this Tamilweek issue brings forth the magnificence of our fauna and flora wealth – and must bring tears of nostalgia in the eyes of every true son and daughter of this soil everywhere. This land and people must be saved from further damage and carnage. My friend Mahinda Rajapakse neither has the strength nor the inclination to provide the needed peace.
As mentioned elsewhere in this issue, young Mano Ganeshan has seen the futility of all and has appealed to India to play a more active and immediate role to save this bleeding nation from hurtling towards an inevitable death. Don’t believe MR’s “wait for my home-grown solution” He is nothing but a opportunistic procrastinator who will never get involved in a “settlement” – fearing the chances of his children wearing the mantle of power in the future – will be endangered to future charges by their opponents of “having sold the Sinhala interest” in case of a settlement. India is the only hope as things stand although India will do her best to shy away from this minefield of a choice.
14. Sivaji | October 28th, 2007 at 11:48 am
Even the US military will praise the plan, co-ordination and the execution of this operation, but what a total waste of 21 young men & women lives. Yes, without a combined military, political & diplomatic approach, Tamils will never achieve their goals – a military campaign alone will never bring a solution to this problem. It’s not too late for the LTTE as they need to engage in a dialogue with the Europe & rest of the world. Until they realize this, lost of these young fighters cannot be justified. It’s so sad!
Whether the SL army has managed to con the Sinhala people by horribly displaying the fighters naked dead bodies, they are certainly campaigning for the LTTE recruitment. Those photos will add recruit many more young men & women to the Black tiger’s squad.
It’s a never ending story!!
15. Thamarai | October 28th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
This is not bravery, This is another cowardice act of LTTE. This mission is enough for the LTTE hooligans around the world to fool more Tamils and to extract more cash for them.
21 LTTE members had killed 13 soldiers and damaged few aircrafts all of which are fully insured. In terms of death 21 v. 13. In terms of property loss, Lloyds of London is going to reimburse the loss which will be shared by another parent insurance company. Whereas locally some ministers will make some fiancial gain in negotiating this alleged loss.
So in the overall cost and benefit analysis, Tamils shall know who are at a loss here.
There was a time when one tiger will go and kill 100s of his enemies. Now 21 went and killed 13 and did some property damage. What is being achieved here is nothing but stupidity? While an immatured young adult I also had admired those actions many years ago. But now I feel sad to hear the deaths of all Sri Lankans.
Surely every mother of those young 21 men & women will curse to death the Methahu man behind the murder of their child !!!
16. winner | October 28th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
salute our tamil heroes
17. kumar | October 28th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
dravidan
you claim to read all DBS articles regularly. But your comment shows you have not understood the writer or what he writes.
In this article DBS reveals himself in the early paragraphs. His excellent description of the whole attack shows where his heart lies and there is no need to sum up anything
The fact of LTTE critic ex – RAW chief Raman saying those paragraphs about LTTE speaks for the article. Why DBS put those paragraphs there shows what DBS wants to say very effectively
If you read Chennai analyst comment about Raman you will understand what DBS did very well
18. kumar | October 28th, 2007 at 5:32 pm
r.veera
DBS is a very proud Tamil. All his writings show that. He fights injustice with a pen and speaks up for Tamils with pen not gun
To be proud Tamil does not mean cheering LTTE like idiots.
Whatever LTTE does there will be no Eelam.That is reality
If you are proud go and fight and die with LTTE instead of trying to show you are brave fighter by using name veera
19. vaniiyaan | October 29th, 2007 at 12:34 am
Dear Anthony Chelva ,
Obviously, we can understand that you are most ‘idiot’ person in srilankan communities. Even if you go to Vanni V.P will not allow washing his toilet and his back! Do not think Tamils are fools (except you)
don’t think or don’t try to say ‘Black Tigers sacrifices for elam’ this is 21st century man not stone age.
Poor innocent young students [brainwashed by Nazi LTTE] vanishing themselves without own senses
please don’t Encourage dying young brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, love ones please. dear Anthony Chelva please!!!!
Vaniyan
20. Ranjit Emerson | October 29th, 2007 at 1:11 am
As I read the article and the comments, I am left with an impression, we are just exercising racialism and shallow thinking. Whether we are Sinhalese or Tamils, we are all Srilankans. What we have lost is not 21 black tigers and 14 airforce personnel, but 35 Srilankans, our national wealth. The forefathers of this nation built this country to provide free education and health systems to those fallen heros. Every person that is killed is lost of national wealth.
All those damages that were done were not the property of the political leaders, but it is the property of all Srilankans. We have lost lives, we have lost properties. Like in the Philippines during Marco’s time, every citizen of SL must rise against, the political leaders, who fail to bring peace to this beautiful country. Our Srilankans can rise up and dispose leaders who can not rule this nation without peace. We see now political leaders are not afraid to practice nepotism, and accumulate wealth for them. They are in a safe secured place, while the farmers’ children, and sons & daughters of humble families are sacrificing the their lives because of poverty.
The Srilankan army could have crippled the military uprising of the Tamils, in the beginning, if they did not terrorise the Tamils both in the North and East. It is because of the intimidation of the Srilankan army and arresting innocent Tamil school going children separated Tamils of the North and East from them. It is at this junction, LTTE became the sole protector of the victimized Tamils. When the atrocities increased against the Tamils of the North and East by the government forces, the innocent Tamil civilians became defend less people. They became vulnerable to continuous violence performed by the government forces.
When LTTE came and offered protection, naturally, they began to support LTTE. In other words, LTTE earned the support of the Tamils by protecting them. So it is the poor politics and governance of South political leaders gave birth to LTTE. It is very imprudent to think that militarism can obliterate LTTE. But it is actually creating more LTTEs than before.
Further more, the grievances of Tamil people in Sri Lanka has been categorized as terrorism. Some Western World leaders have voiced this misinterpretation in their political platform. Instead of analysing our country’s present situation, our political leaders have rather condemned such opinions of the Western World and determined to carry on their own thinking, which only profits them and not the people of Sri Lanka. As a result, we are struggling politically, economically and psychologically. This war has created many single parents, fatherless children, and cripples (physically) society.
Tamils are Srilankans. They are part of Sri Lanka’s wealth. The cardinal priority of our nation is to solve our minorities’ issues to accomplish peace. This can’t be achieved through militarism because violence begets only violence–this is a universal fact. By using militarism, we are only suppressing one of the symptoms of the Tamils’ infringements, but not the core problem. So dialogue is only healthy paradigm to achieve peace. If we fail to implement this dialogue now, it will be extremely impossible to achieve peace in the future. If our leaders fail to dialogue now, we will make our country like Sudan or Somalia. We were once called the Paradise of the East, now we are become the ‘Hades of the East.’
21. Hanuman | October 29th, 2007 at 8:39 am
All ,
Read other related articles.
Do not overlook the fact that there are sinhalese lawyers representing detained tamils etc and doing their best to release them. Sinhalese judges who are really independent of political interference and doing a terrific job under lot of pressure.
We are all being pawns in someone else’s weapon sales.
STOP THE HATRED,
Be peace loving. If all of you yearn for peace your health and the country’s health will improve.
22. tushi | October 29th, 2007 at 9:42 am
To VP:
‘I would have hailed you as a brave man if all the 22 persons in the photograph appeared in the local papers with you in the centre, had died. But you have regrettably sacrificed all the 21 innocent children of poor parents, who are appearing with you in that photograph,’
- V.Anandasangaree
23. Suresh M | October 29th, 2007 at 1:50 pm
I thought ‘Karunas’ are only among Tamils, but Sinhalese too.
Latest reports emerging from Sinhala media is that some from the Air Force might have sold valuable information to Tigers.
No shame in learning from your enemy.
24. gemunu watch | October 29th, 2007 at 5:16 pm
Only our beloved uncle V. Ananthe Sankeri has condemed this attack, It is still strange that big brother Dougles did not utter a word. The attack on Anurathepura will make a history for tamils in the world forum. We are proud of the black tigers. Lets wait and se what hapens next. Sorry Mehinda I do feel sorry for you.
25. r.veera | October 29th, 2007 at 8:06 pm
my dear mr kumar
You are using tamil name, you are a real coward. Hope you enjoying your life, I know you u r a sinhala. Hope you will teach your follwow sinhala people some thing useful for your sinhala nation. leaave us alone we will builds our beautiful tamil nation.
may be i will bless you buddham sarnum katchami.
26. sangiliyan | October 29th, 2007 at 9:30 pm
Not in his wildest dreams the sinhala nation can think about planning a daredevil assault of the calibre ‘Operation Ellalan”.
As someone said before, the SL Government lost many aircrafts before and bought more after the operations. Good thinking man, how long you gonna buy planes in credit when your people are starving and struggling to survive ? You lost 61 billion rupees in 8 hours. You would have done wonders with this money to your own community if you have stopped the genocide. Just leave us alone and we will leave you in peace. Dont try to invade and kill us. We will hit you hard. Hard as anuradhapura.
Finally for our 21 beloved sisters and brothers, you made us proud ! You will be remembered forever for your heroics! The tamil nation will ever remeber you as her saviours! Rest in peace our martyrs! may God bless you and our nation!
27. yaji | October 30th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
thamarai! military items are not insured with Lloyds. The lost will be bared by every citizen of Sri Lanka, resulting in further cost of living.
28. nihal ferdinando | October 31st, 2007 at 8:39 am
Bravo DBS, it looks like you led the black tigers to the attack all the way. What a brilliant account of events. Even VP would be impressed.
29. TULF President V. Anandasangaree's letter to Praba | November 1st, 2007 at 3:40 am
“Please stop your killings and go for talks-Anandasangaree tells Prabhakaran”
30. Naga UK | November 1st, 2007 at 11:49 am
As a Tamil I should be elated by the actions and their ability. But as a Sri Lankan I feel sorry. Then again do the Tigers have an alternative? They will have to do whatever they can to de-stabilize the majority government. Even the mojority opposition is trying to do that. The problem is the current govt. is not a majority one, but one that manged to hold on to power with various tricks including one with the so called deal with the LTTE, eventhough Selvan has made a futile attempt to deny such a deal. Waht I appreciate in Selvan’s statement is that he has not totally rejectected this. He has said that they have not been ‘directly involved’ in the transactions which is better than most of the statements made by the Govt. and its cronies. To that extent they are honest, but the fact remains that they have sold the Tamils lock, stock and barrel. It cannot be equated with with MR and family or RW and his followers for they have been put, willingly or not, into a position they cannot go back on their racial mandate.
The JVP is a lost cause. JHU has no right to be there even by the harcore Sinhala Budhist Standards. They hove a few heads for the purpose of counting in parliament – tjhat is all.
31. Ravana | November 2nd, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Dear Sangiliyan,
How very romantic are your comments..
How would you like to loose your whole terrorist organisation in 20 min’s? (an attack that would unlesh hell on earth, which is quite possible to do, since the ltte has lil pin dicks fighting for uncle P)
Stop the crap. Get back to the negotiation table. If not you will loose what ever chance you had. Im not talking abt tamils here. (Im sure once terrorism is put to an end a sonlution will come) Im talking abt your fascist “leader”. But i guess he chooses deception as a tactic or maybe a stratergy even, to try n become i dunno…. king?
“He who is dumb enuf to goto war with sri lanka with a tooth pick as a weapon gets it poked up his arse.. ” – you should make that a proverb you asswipe.
32. Anonymous | November 3rd, 2007 at 2:56 am
Thamarai
As someone else mentioned earlier, military assets are not insurable. Even if they are, have you heard of a concept called insurance premiums? These tend to sky rocket when you become a high risk insuree. By now, Llodys of London must have recovered every thing they lost during the Colombo Airport attack by slapping huge premiums on SL govt and other parties doing business in SL and will certainly make sure that they pass on the cost they incurred in SL. In fact, immediately after the Colombo Airport attack, the insurance premiums for all the ships that docked in Colombo were raised by 20%. This meant that all the imported goods became expensive by almost 5-10% since transportation cost is a significant cost for imported items. All these were factors in Sri Lanka hitting recession in 2001, the year before the ceasefire.
It is the sheer stupidity of people like yourselves (among both Sinhalese & Tamils) that is prolonging this bloody war. Why don’t you come out of the weeds and look at the big picture for once. Instead of figuring out who is killing more on the other side, why don’t you worry about all the lost opportunities of economic development and prosperity over the last 30 years. We are already the Brazil of Asia (lots of potential but always disappointing) but soon we will become the Bangladesh of Asia (the eternal basket case). Like the Malaysians, Thais and Indonesians did with the Chinese, the Sinhalese would have been better off letting their minority communities (Tamils & Muslims) to thrive. If you look at any country, the minorities always somehow find a way to thrive against all odds. The minority complex in them make them drive harder than the majority. If Sri Lanka had allowed this, the tamils and muslims would have only contributed towards expanding the economy, education, trade, etc. (Like the Chinese did in Southeast Asia) and the whole Sri Lanka would have been better. The pie would have got bigger and everyone would have gained. Instead, see what we have done to our country. Even now, the Sinhalese have so much more to lose than the Tamils, who have nothing really left to lose, by prolonging the war. To borrow a famous phrase from Colvin R De Silva, “if you want one country, have two languages. If you want one language, then you will get two countries”. Banda chose one language and we ended up with a hell hole!
33. V_Master | November 3rd, 2007 at 7:06 am
to Radgapaksa…
Unless it is possible to name terrorists of those who meaningly goes on death and thus battles to militarians?
Unless it is possible to name militarians of those who parades to public of a body of the lost enemies? GO TO TALKS.
34. ravi | November 3rd, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Mr,Anthony,
You feel very panic about attack.but they replace all damage soon,you me and all tamils will have to pay for this,but you never able replase you’r deaths.
35. Thamarai | November 3rd, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Hi Yaji (reply 27),
you are wrong my dear. Military items are not bought over the counter paying cash. It is on credit and no lender will be giving these items without an insurance. Of course, on a high premium payment.
Even otherwise, the govt property is no man’s property. It is not a personal loss to any person to feel the loss. When the US twin towers were destroyed, were the citizens of US suffered any personal loss because of the property damage.
the real loss is the human loss and the loss of pride. These losses cannot be reimbursed. So, it is a loss to the LTTE at the end be’cos they have a big ego problem.
36. geeth | November 3rd, 2007 at 9:36 pm
As somebody written they cannot be humans, they have to be brainless animals to kill themselves for a dream which will never come true
what is tamil honour means? who honour these cold blooded killers? tamil honour is never ending sufferring
may be
37. Saman.J | November 4th, 2007 at 3:25 am
These contributors are all talking rubbish.
The fact remains the country has lost 35 of its precious wealth.
What is Prabakaran & his hooters do? Contribute to this erosion without downing arms & being sincere about peace.
54% of the 5% of tamils living in SL are living in the south of the country. They have no problem, They have wealth, jobs engaged in business and schooling.
Attending weddings, partying & funerals?
P.Nadesan is married to a Sinhala woman from Matara and exists peacefully.
What is the problem Prabakaran & the ltte hooters have in promoting bloodshed?
Are the overseas diaspora using ltte as a vehicle for their personal gains by throwing fistfull of dollars at them????
38. Thamilan | November 4th, 2007 at 10:51 am
Thamarai (comment # 35)
I challenge you to prove that these military hardwares are insured. The US Twin Towers caused billions of damage which was not significant as the government of United States can quickly pump in cash from their tax payers (beside the twin tower is a real-estate not a military hardware). Compared to the damage of Twin Tower these military hardware’s are worth pennies which the government of Sri Lanka can only scrap the treasury department and hope that they can cover the damage.
Your lack of knowledge and common sense to differentiate the Twin Tower and Military Hardware is a contribution to the on going conflict in the Island.
With people like you in Sri Lanka, there will never be peace. Oh! Please do no use the name Thamarai, it is a genuine and a beautiful Tamil name. I don’t care if you are Tamil or not; but your stupidity being presented under a beautiful name like Thamarai is just plain sadness to me.
39. shanga | November 18th, 2007 at 5:44 pm
i dont know who is this thamarai.. for others ltte never started this war.it is srilanka who started the ethnic cleansing and now they are paying for this. ltte should revive there strategies.bomb there trains, buses and all there public places until they kill innocent tamilians by aerial bombing. kill srilankan leaders until they kill ltte leaders.no srilankan should sleep in peace until they stop killing innocent tamilians. if srilankan want war than ltte should give them the best.
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