SRI LANKA AIRFORCE SAYS IT BOMBED AND DESTROYED THE HEAD QUARTERS OF SEA TIGERS SETTING FIRE TO FUEL STORAGE

By Walter Jayawardhana

Sri Lanka Air Force claimed that they bombed and destroyed the Head Quarters of the Sea Tigers at Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mulaithiuvu setting fire to its fuel storage.

The Ministry of Defence published aerial photos indicating the rising clouds of black smoke which they claimed of a fire that lasted about an hour.

But the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said it was no headquarters the air force pounded with bombs but the bombs fell on White Pigeon , that helps those who have lost their legs in land mine explosions.

But the Ministry of Defense said, “SL Air Force fighter pilots scored another triumph today as they successfully destroyed LTTE's sea tiger headquarters located atPuthukkudiyiruppu in Mulaithiuvu. A large complex of buildings including a fuel storage, a vehicle maintenance yard and spare parts storage were completely destroyed in an air raid conducted around 1.10p.m. The follow-through reports of the attack indicated that the flame lasted about an hour after the attack. ”Puthukkudiyiruppu, is located about 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the coast, in the northeast of the country.

LTTE spokewoman Navaruban Selvy said , "Fortunately there were no casualties, but the buildings were damaged." It is customary for the LTTE to claim no casualty after any aerial attack. Selvy also claimed the Sea Tiger Headquarters were about 15 miles away from the place of bombing.
But the Ministry of Defense said, “it has been revealed that the target has been accurately identified through timely ground information received form the reliable sources.

Though the target was kept under surveillance since long the confirmation has not been acquired until today. The quick responding time of the air force and the excellent coordination between the intelligence sources are the key success factors behind this operation.”