Changes after Debacle

Major General Sanath Karunartne, a battle-hardened officer as the Overall Operation Commander(OOC) a newly created post for district of Anuradhapura

By:Defencewire

(October,23,Colombo,Sri Lanka Guardian) Sri Lanka's military made key changes in its command and operational structure today, a day after the Black Tiger suicide squad destroyed more than a dozen air crafts in the Anuradhapura air base, officials said. President Mahinda Rajapaksha, who is also the commander in chief of the armed forces has appointed Major General Sanath Karunartne, a battle-hardened officer as the Overall Operation Commander(OOC) a newly created post for district of Anuradhapura, with immediate effect.

Former military spokesman Karunartne has been credited with defending the army's Elephant Pass garrison with 600 soldiers against prolonged Tiger attack in 1991. The base was later lost to the LTTE in 2000, hen there were 2200 troops at the camp. He was also able to defeat the LTTE's repeated attempts to enter Jaffna peninsular in late last year before taking over the duties as General Officer commanding at army's 11th Division operated from Panagoda cantonment.

His appointment is in addition to the Defence Secretary's order to take over outer perimeter security of all domestic airports in the country by Army. Elite Special Forces troops will take over some of the air force bases according to latest arrangements, it is learnt. However the move would not make the Air Force happy and there is a possibility that this could erupt into crossfunctional and operational problems with both forces, military analyzers say.

Yesterday's devastated attack into the airbase resulted in at least 17 aircraft destroyed or out of operation, causing at least US$40 million lost to the government, which is strugling to overcome incresing defence expenditure in the country. Country's next year's defence expenditure rised sharply by 19.4% compared to this year's budgeted of Rs.139billions. The lost would create a direct impact on Air Force especially on their short and medium caliber attacks against the Tigers.

Needless to say the lost assets of the Air Force also undermine the training and transport facilities, including the operational and reconnaissance support for other forces.