NEW DELHI, June 4: Two aeroplanes that were spotted in the Tamil Tigers’ lair of the northern Wani jungles and at least one makeshift landing strip seen in the Jaffna region, were the subject of worried exchanges between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Friday.
“In their discussions on the peace process, concern was expressed over ceasefire violations. Particular concern was expressed over the illegal acquisition of air capability,” a joint statement said after the summit-level talks here.
Delhi emphasized the need for Colombo to resume early talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). President Kumaratunga, who arrived here on Thursday on a three-day visit, has expressed serious concern to the United States too over what is believed to be an attempt by the LTTE to get an air force of sorts, sources said.
Defence analysts say the acquisition threatens both Sri Lanka and India because of its potential for use as a suicide mission tool by the LTTE against either or both.
This concern was reportedly shared by President Kumaratunga with former US presidents Bill Clinton and the senior George Bush recently, when she met them during a tsunami-related tour.
Sri Lanka Air Force Chief Air Marshal Donald Perera had earlier briefed President Kumaratunga on the LTTE’s capability from information gained through surveillance by unmanned aerial vehicles.
The surveillance revealed that the Tamil militants had built an airstrip near Iranamadu in the Wani area and a light aircraft was seen there. A number of reconnaissance missions are reported to have shown a paved 1250-metre-long runway at the site and video footage of at least one light aircraft landing at the airstrip.
