By Sunil Jayasiri
The National Security Council which met on Wednesday, just days after the Air Force lost eight aircraft in the LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura air base, decided to immediately purchase a number of new military aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force.
A top military official told the Daily Mirror the attack on the air base was discussed in depth at the weekly Security Council meeting attended by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wikcrmenyake, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Air Force Chief Roshan Goonetilake, Chief of Defence Staff Donald Perera, Police Chief Victor Perera and several other defence ministry officials.
The Air Force Chief presented a detail report to the NSC about the LTTE’s Black Tiger attack on the base and informed the council members the attack did not have an impact on the capability of the Air Force.
He stressed the necessity of surveillance aircraft as well as MI-24 combat helicopters and in response it is learnt that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed the Defence Ministry to purchase the required aircraft on a priority basis.
The Security Council members also discussed the future security arrangements at all Air Force bases including other security establishments as well.
In Monday’s predawn LTTE attack on the A’pura air base, a Beach craft, two Mi-24 helicopter gunship, a Mi-17 transport helicopter, K-8 and PT6 trainer jets, Cessna 150 aircraft, a Bell 212 helicopter and three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles were destroyed.
DN
The National Security Council which met on Wednesday, just days after the Air Force lost eight aircraft in the LTTE attack on the Anuradhapura air base, decided to immediately purchase a number of new military aircraft for the Sri Lanka Air Force.
A top military official told the Daily Mirror the attack on the air base was discussed in depth at the weekly Security Council meeting attended by Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wikcrmenyake, Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Air Force Chief Roshan Goonetilake, Chief of Defence Staff Donald Perera, Police Chief Victor Perera and several other defence ministry officials.
The Air Force Chief presented a detail report to the NSC about the LTTE’s Black Tiger attack on the base and informed the council members the attack did not have an impact on the capability of the Air Force.
He stressed the necessity of surveillance aircraft as well as MI-24 combat helicopters and in response it is learnt that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had directed the Defence Ministry to purchase the required aircraft on a priority basis.
The Security Council members also discussed the future security arrangements at all Air Force bases including other security establishments as well.
In Monday’s predawn LTTE attack on the A’pura air base, a Beach craft, two Mi-24 helicopter gunship, a Mi-17 transport helicopter, K-8 and PT6 trainer jets, Cessna 150 aircraft, a Bell 212 helicopter and three Unmanned Aerial Vehicles were destroyed.
DN
