*Police clemped a curfew in Anuradhapura
*Anuradhapura town indefinitely close down
*Fire exchange inside of the Base Continue
*20 LTTE killed
*17 more arrested by Polonnaruwa police
*Anuradhapura town indefinitely close down
*Fire exchange inside of the Base Continue
*20 LTTE killed
*17 more arrested by Polonnaruwa police
(October,22, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka Guardian) At least seven Sri Lankan airmen and 20 ltte cadres were killed in an unprecedented the LTTE coordinated ground and air attack, military officials said on Monday.
A four-member crew of a Bell-212 helicopter gunship were killed when they crashed in bad weather while trying to help colleagues
under attack at the Anuradhapura military base in the north-central region, officials said. Three airmen wounded in ground battles died in hospital while another 16 escaped with injuries.
"The military has spotted the bodies of 20 LTTE cadres killed in the military counter-attack," top level Air Force source told the Sri Lanka Guardian..
“Two Mi-24 helicopter gunships were hit by the LTTE ground force which also destroyed an anti-aircraft gun position before LTTE air craft could bomb the base. Two fixed-wing planes were also damaged,”he confirmed.
The base came under "heavy" ground and air attacks under the cover of darkness, a ministry statement said.
Police clamped a curfew in the area as a search for the attackers got under way, police said. Meanwhile 17 more suspects were arrested by Polonnaruwa, source said.
The Tigers are believed to have a small fleet of Czech-made Zlin Z-143 single-engined light aircraft which were smuggled in pieces into the north of the island by boat and which can be flown from tiny makeshift jungle airstrips.
In the past, the LTTE have carried out air attacks against the airbase adjoining Sri Lanka's only international airport as well as the main military air field at Palaly in the Jaffna peninsula.
A four-member crew of a Bell-212 helicopter gunship were killed when they crashed in bad weather while trying to help colleagues
under attack at the Anuradhapura military base in the north-central region, officials said. Three airmen wounded in ground battles died in hospital while another 16 escaped with injuries."The military has spotted the bodies of 20 LTTE cadres killed in the military counter-attack," top level Air Force source told the Sri Lanka Guardian..
“Two Mi-24 helicopter gunships were hit by the LTTE ground force which also destroyed an anti-aircraft gun position before LTTE air craft could bomb the base. Two fixed-wing planes were also damaged,”he confirmed.
The base came under "heavy" ground and air attacks under the cover of darkness, a ministry statement said.
Police clamped a curfew in the area as a search for the attackers got under way, police said. Meanwhile 17 more suspects were arrested by Polonnaruwa, source said.
The Tigers are believed to have a small fleet of Czech-made Zlin Z-143 single-engined light aircraft which were smuggled in pieces into the north of the island by boat and which can be flown from tiny makeshift jungle airstrips.
In the past, the LTTE have carried out air attacks against the airbase adjoining Sri Lanka's only international airport as well as the main military air field at Palaly in the Jaffna peninsula.
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