From rxpgnews.com
Sri Lanka vows to destroy rebel air capability
By Xinhua,
Apr 25, 2007 - 3:13:06 PM
Colombo, April 25 - The Sri Lankan government Wednesday vowed to destroy the Tamil Tigers' air capability after a pre-dawn air attack by the rebels that killed at least six soldiers in the northern Jaffna peninsula.
Group Captain Ajantha Silva, spokesman for the air force, told reporters: 'Our priority now is to destroy LTTE - aircraft.'
The military officials claimed Tuesday that the air defence system in the northern air base of Palaly was successful in thwarting the attempt by the Tiger planes to bomb the base.
The LTTE said their two aircraft bombed the military's main base complex in Jaffna peninsula early Tuesday, inflicting heavy damage and casualties.
On March 26, LTTE planes attacked the main Sri Lankan airbase near Colombo.
The rebel air capability has added a new dimension to the island's long drawn out separatist armed conflict that had claimed over 67,000 lives since the mid 1980s. The LTTE is said to own at least two light aircraft.
In the island's east, officials said two paramilitary Home Guards were killed while four others were injured in a roadside mob explosion.
The blast, blamed on the Tamil Tigers, targeted a road patrolling party around 8.45 a.m. in Ampara district.
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