Uninterrupted service to the nation:

SLAF focuses on development

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Facing many challenges, the Sri Lanka Air Force today celebrates over 60 years of its remarkable journey of excellence. During the six decades of its existence, the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has been in the forefront in ‘Protecting the Lankan Skies’ (‘Surakimu Lakambara’).

During the period of Eelam War IV, the Sri Lanka Air Force was one of the most active of the world’s air forces. The round-the-clock job entailed maritime strikes, close air support, CASEVAC, (casualty evacuation) ground attacks, transport, air defence and surveillance. These could have been the most challenging period in which the Air Force displayed the best of their abilities.

Irrespective of time, the great warriors of the SLAF were ready to face any enemy, challenge or threat to save their Motherland and were never ready to compromise the country’s sovereignty.

The year 1992 was a period of transition for the Air Force. For the first time in their history SLAF troops were deployed in holding the ground on the main supply routes in the East – namely the Horowpothana – Trincomalee road. Taking over these responsibilities SLAF personnel would have never thought that this would be a turning point in their operational approach.

“Commanded by Squadron Leader Theja Cooray, SLAF troops were deployed to hold the main supply route over the area from the Army. The deputy in command was Squadron Leader Mohan de Soysa,” said Group Captain Cammilus Labrooy who was then a Flight Lieutenant. He was sent on duty in command of the detachment in Pankulam, 30 kilometres from Trincomalee.

“The Army had kept the route open only for two days per week to transport food and other essential commodities. But we were ordered to keep the road open 24 x 7,” said Group Captain Labrooy.

This was the first time in the history of the Air Force that they had taken over such a duty. The SLAF regiment personnel took the lead in these missions. The complete deployment was over 1,000 troops in the area. According to him, the group was a mix of SLAF officers from various units. Some of them were from regimental units and some were from logistics.

“From 8 – 9 in the morning we carried out route clearance; without it no road movements were allowed,” he continued. He and his second-in-command took turns leading the team. On that fateful day of January 1992, it was the turn of the second-in-command, Flying Officer Bandara Ekanayake to lead the team of 45 Air Force personnel on the route clearance.

“The team started route clearance by 8 a.m. and about 15 minutes later I heard a huge explosion. Initially, what happened was that the LTTE exploded 32 claymore mines simultaneously. Then followed the rain of ‘Arul’ grenade attacks. The LTTE were using Multi Purpose Machine Guns and sub machine guns,” he added. The attack had continued for about half-an-hour and the SLAF team under attack was about 150 metres from the camp. The LTTE were also attacking the path to prevent reinforcements coming in.

The LTTE targeted the main body of the route clearing formation. Explaining the situation, Group Captain Labrooy said that according to the formation they were following the team took a ‘V’ shape.

Two scouts go ahead of the team. The main body includes the officer and the radio men. Two flag units sweep the thicket on the sides of the road. The two scouts had detected the LTTE terrorists who were hiding in wait for a surprise attack. “They opened fire and the LTTE lost the suprise element of the attack they triggered the claymore mines before the main body came into their target position,” None of the Air Force personnel were injured in the claymore attack.

‘We got reinforcements from Panmedawachchiya which was about 8 kilometres from the point of attack. Then there was another contingent of Armoured Corp positioned at the 10th mile post.

They were held up and delayed because the LTTE were attacking the road at several points using Multi Purpose Machine Guns and Rocket Propelled Grenades. The LTTE cut off certain areas of the road so that reinforcements could not get there on time. ‘During that time the LTTE continued random attacks on our security points in the area. Among the LTTE attack groups a few leaders could be seen and a considerable number of new cadre was present.

Some of these new LTTE cadre carried sharp weapons such as axes and machetes which they used to chop injured Air Force personnel to death and forcefully take their weapons, ammunition and whatever belongings they had.

“Those in the rear survived and witnessed what happened to their fellow servicemen in the front.

The terrorists with weapons fired and injured the airmen and other terrorists with machetes would butcher the injured men,” he said depicting the true brutality of LTTE attacks.

”When we reached the attack site the LTTE cadres were withdrawing. Simultaneously, Flight Lieutenant Shane Keel arrived with his detachment at Panmedawachchiya and Squadron Leader Buwaneka Abeysooriya led troops from the tenth mile post. Squadron Leader Mohan de Soyza came with reinforcements from base camp at Morawewa which was farther located than the other places.

Operational strategies

This led to the Air Force to change their operational strategies in securing the Main Supply Routes. They continued to secure the area even during Eelam War IV that started in 2006 from Mavil Aru.

“This route always kept infested with claymore mines by the LTTE. Even with their withdrawals they planted claymore mines on the sides of the road, culverts and such places with all network done.

They had maps of these layouts and during a spontaneous attack it was just a matter of fixing the wires to the battery to explode the mines,” he said.

“If we analyse the history of this road, Major General Lakshman Wijeratne former Brigade Commander of the Army’s 22 Brigade was killed by a landmine explosion on this road.

This road might have had the highest number of landmine explosives,” Group Captain Labrooy said explaining the severity of the threat.

There were sporadic attacks on the route following the 1992 incident but the Air Force managed to secure their area following the lessons learnt.