Why are the Tamil Tigers expanding their runways?

'Since the unveiling of the Tiger aircraft, Sri Lanka has spent large sums of money upgrading its air defenses but, so far, failed to bring down the Tiger planes. Why are the Tamil Tigers expanding their runways?'

(September 03, Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are busy expanding an airstrip Puthukuduirippu, Mullaithivu, the Sri Lankan defence ministry calimed.

The finished airstrip would be longer and wider than the one in Iranamadhu and will be capable of handling large aircrafts, defence sources said, citing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) video footage.

The expansion work has baffled Sri Lankan military top brass and local media is raising serious concerns, press reports said. The Island newspaper in its editorial said: "An accelerated project the LTTE has launched to build a clandestine airstrip capable of taking heavy aircraft in Mullaitivu has raised many an eyebrow in defence circles. LTTE cadres are said to be carrying out construction work like beavers with the help of heavy machinery day and night, paying scant regard to their vulnerability to air strikes."

The newspaper questioned "Why are the Tigers in a mighty hurry to build such an airstrip at this juncture?"

The newspaper then went onto speculate reasons for the expansion of the airstrip and offered several possibilities. The possibilities according to the paper are:

LTTE building the airstrip to evacuate its leadership to a safe destination in the prevent of Mullaithivu falling to the Sri Lankan forces.

LTTE preparing for an emergency consignment of military material to be delivered by a huge cargo carrier for the final battle in Kilinochchi.

LTTE having in its possession larger planes than the ones it has unveiled and it is planning to take them out as the last resort for some unknown mission.

The runway project being a ploy to distract the SLAF from other targets or to lure it into a trap.

"These are mere surmises and even the defence experts are reportedly groping in the dark as to the real goal of the LTTE's project, which is proof that the outfit has not yet run out of its surprises for the military, in spite of a heavy beating it has suffered." The new paper editorial added.

In March last year the LTTE unveiled their air force with an attack on the Sri Lanka Air Force base complex adjacent to the Katunayake International Airport. Since then Tiger aircrafts have targeted military installations both in the north and the south of the country.

In October last year the LTTE, carried out their first air and land combined operation when the tiger aircrafts provided aerial support to LTTE commandos who stormed the Anuradhapaura Air Force base and wiped out Sri Lankan airforce fleet based in the complex.

Since the unveiling of the Tiger aircraft, Sri Lanka has spent large sums of money upgrading its air defenses but, so far, failed to bring down the Tiger planes. Why are theTamil Tigers expanding their runways?
- Sri Lanka Guardian