SLAF takes on more LTTE targets

Religious activities to mark 57th anniversary

By Shanika Sriyananda

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The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) which celebrates its 57th anniversary today will continue to reduce the LTTE fighting capabilities and destroy their training bases while isolating the outfit more in future.

Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonetileke, who is confident on taking on enemy targets by SLAF pilots, said that targeting the leadership of the outfit is equally important as destroying the LTTE fighting capabilities.

The SLAF Chief told the Sunday Observer that he strongly believes that LTTE Leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran was badly injured in the air strike on the LTTE, on November 26. Air Marshal Goonetilake said that the SLAF would continue to attack LTTE targets more vigorously and the SLAF which had systematically destroyed the training bases, underground ammunition and fuel dumps and Sea Tiger bases of the LTTE, will continue with aerial strikes to destroy important places and assets of the LTTE in future.

He said the SLAF, a ceremonial Air Force has been converted to a fully operational Air Force was ready to take on any future challenge. "This is not the end but the SLAF will be continuously improved with modern technology", he said.

The SLAF Chief said that the improved intelligence services of the SLAF and the other intelligence sources had played an important role in taking correct enemy targets.

"Though the LTTE is mingling with the civilians we always take our targets to minimise losses to civilians. We are confident about our targets", he said.

As a result of a defence agreement between the United Kingdom and the country's first Prime Minister D. S. Senanayake, the Sri Lanka Air Force was set up on March 2, 1951.

The SLAF has organised several religious activities to mark its 57th anniversary today.