Katunayake Airbase Attack

On Tuesday, July 23, 2001 at 3:30am, a strike team consisting of
fourteen members of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam infiltrated
the Katunayake Airbase and commenced a 10 hour assault on the Sri
Lankan Air Force.

This battle caused the largest amount of financial loss to the Sri
Lankan Army in the 18 years of the Tamil Eelam separatist conflict.
The total financial loss was estimated by the Sri Lankan government to
be $375 million USD.

The meticulously planned attack by the separatist Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) targeted SriLanka Airlines aircraft parked on the
apron and another foreign-owned cargo plane was spared.

When the battle was over 14 members of the LTTE, 7 soldiers of the Sri
Lankan Air Force had been killed. There were no civilian casualties.

The confidence of the Sri Lankan military had been shattered.

Planning the Attack

Katunayake attack was conceptualized by LTTE leader Velupillai
Prabakharan. The blueprint for the attack and training program for the
operation was prepared by Prabakharan in association with Intelligence
Chief Pottu Amman, Anti Aircraft and Air Wing head Shankar and Deputy
Military Commander Balraj.

The LTTE had already stalemated the Sri Lankan Army and Sri Lankan
Navy. The LTTE in the past had been successful in using Anti Aircraft
guns and Surface to Air missiles in shooting down a few Sri Lankan Air
Force planes. However the Sri Lankan Air Force had continued to
upgrade their Air capabilities. Sri Lanka had purchased Israeli built
Kfir bombers and Russian MIG-27 jet fighters with anti-missile defence
systems.

Sri Lankan Air Force had also received training in the operation of
these aircraft from Israeli and Ukrainian pilots based in Sri Lanka.

The LTTE had conducted two attacks on the Sri Lankan Air Force in the
early 1990s. The first inside the China Bay Airbase in Trincomalee
destroyed two planes and three helicopters. The second inside the
Palay Airbase in Jaffna destroyed one helicopter. There was also an
attack against Katunayake Airbase in which a taxi with explosives
packed inside secret compartments was detected.

Sri Lanka also maintains Airbases in Ratmalana, Anuradhapura,
Trincomalee, Vavuniya and Palaly.

The Katunayake Airbase Complex

The Sri Lanka Air Force base at Katunayake, 35 km north of the
capital, is the most important and the biggest airbase in the country.
Adjoining the airbase is the Bandaranaike International Airport, Sri
Lanka's only civilian airport, and its only air link to the outside
world, besides being the 'hub' of the international operations of Sri
Lankan Airlines. Together, the two constitute the most highly guarded
facility in all of Sri Lanka. The complex has 90 sentry points
around it, and over 500 men guarding it.

The Katunayaka Airbase / Bandaranaike International Airport is unique
in that it hosts Sri Lanka's largest military airbase alongside a
major international airport. This is somewhat unusual because a clear
distinction is usually maintained between civilian and military
installations in the interests of civilians, particularly in times of
war. Since the LTTE has been scrupulously in avoiding any harm for
befalling foreigners as far as possible, it was calculated that the
Tigers would not dare attack Katunayake.

"Ten Squadron" Bombing Runs

Sri Lanka had newly assembled an aerial bombardment fleet known as
"Ten Squadron". It consisted of thirteen Kfirs and eight MIG-27s.
Katunayake that had the most suitable infrastructure in terms of
tarmac and runway facility for smooth multi-level take offs and
landings for these aircraft, particularly the supersonic MIGs and
Kfirs. Though the Katunayake attack had been put together in the year
2000 the LTTE had refrained from implementation because the LTTE had
been observing a unilateral ceasefire. The Kumaratunga regime rejected
the LTTEs peace offer and pursued war. It launched operation 'Agni
Kheela' on April 24 which ended in failure.

The turning point came when the government embarked on a massive
bombing spree in the North on June 30, under the flimsy pretext that
it was necessary to preempt an offensive planned by the Tigers to
retake Jaffna. The LTTE denied this vehemently and issued a statement
on July 2, warning the government that it must bear the consequences
for the unwarranted air raids.

The LTTE Leopards

The LTTE has assembled and trained a team consisting mainly of its
elite commando unit known as "Chiruthaigal" or leopards to prepare for
the attack. The Katunayake attack team consisted of some members of
the anti aircraft and air wing and intelligence operatives. All of
them had taken the Black Tiger oath and were willing to die.

Models replicating the Katunayake complex were constructed and
utilized for mock attack practices.

Intelligence gathering about the Katunayake Airbase Complex had been
going on for over a year. The LTTE had operatives perform
reconnaissance missions posing as travelers and visitors. This was
made possible because the civilian BIA was in the same complex.

An intelligence operative had rented out a house in the Katunayake
area for a long time and mapped out the location. Members of the LTTE
who were former employees of the Sri Lankan Air Force or Air Lanka
also provided input. The LTTE's intelligence bureau also succeeded in
purchasing maps and blue prints from two middle ranking Air Force
officers for a hefty amount. Both of these Air Force officers were
Sinhalese.

Primary Target Katunayake Airbase

The LTTE intended to prevent civilian causalities. The Airport
building was not to be attacked at any cost. Also the Air force base
was to be attacked first so that civilians in the Airport could have
adequate time to ensure their safety. A simultaneous attack on both
targets was ruled out.

The bulk of the assault team was transported by sea to the Western
coast. Some guerrillas traveled by road and arrived in Colombo. The
awesome arsenal required for the operation was also ferried by sea and
lodged in a safe house off the western seaboard. By July 22, most
members of the assault squad had assembled at a safe house in the
interior of Gampaha district. The arms and ammunition necessary was
also collected. The 21 member assault squad led by a senior leader
addressed as "Amman" by the team clambered aboard a 36 seater luxury
bus to take on a highly fortified airbase in the heart of Sinhala
country.

Preliminary maneuvers however were on. Intelligence operatives and
advance scouts preceded the assault team to conduct reconnaissance
missions. These Tigers generally unarmed would most likely have
traveled in singles or pairs to avoid attention. It is now understood
that some came by road transport to the Katunayake Airport area while
others took the train to Kurana situated between Katunayake and
Negombo. Once the environment was monitored and risk factors measured,
signals to go on with the mission were given the assault team through
cellular phones.

The luxury bus with tinted glass windows and curtains bore the name
"Rosa". It had a "Matara" destination board. The upper portion was
brownish and lower portion grayish in colour. The bus was seen in
Kadhirana and Kurana areas near the railway station after dusk.

Though this was Black July and members of the security forces were on
extra alert, the LTTE bus managed to pass though numerous check points
mostly likely by bribing security officials.

Picnic at Raja Fernando Playground

The luxury bus was parked at the Raja Fernando playground in Kurana
after 8:30 pm. The occupants got out, removed their footwear,
stretched their legs and began consuming dinner. Most of them knew
that this was going to be their last meal on earth. They ate out of
food parcels and also had chocolate slabs and biscuit packets. Cans of
soft drinks were also taken. The neighbourhood where the playground
was situated was not densely populated, but several passersby took
notice of the vehicle and men.

Some thought they were security personnel in civils as lilting Sinhala
music was playing on a cassette player. A few who inquired were told
in perfect Sinhala that they had come to Katunayake to bid farewell to
friends departing to the middle east, and were now camping out in
picnic style at the playground for the night. They would do some sight-
seeing the following day and then depart to Matara. Many bought this
explanation. A few like Xavier Dayananda Fernando, a resident of the
area were suspicious. They informed Air Force personnel of their
suspicion. But there was no immediate response.

The usual power cuts in the area to conserve electricity was from 9:45
pm to 11:15 pm. When it ensued slightly earlier than usual that night,
everything was pitch dark. The assault squad hastily finished their
meal, changed into uniforms (mostly air force type with a few combat
fatigues) and started out on their destination. In the hurry at least
twelve pairs of footwear were left behind. Some were removed by
residents later.

The luxury bus dropped off the squad at the rail track in Kadirana
area. The Tigers then used the overwhelming darkness as cover and
started to walk on the rail track towards Katunayake airport. They
were also carrying several heavy sacks of armaments and equipment. The
bus then sped off.

The sacks were heavy with G-3 general purpose machine guns, T-56
assault rifles, 40 mm grenade launchers, Rocket Propelled grenade RPG
launchers, shoulder fired disposable LAW, Light anti tank weapons, LMG
light machine guns, packets of plastic explosives, magnetic devices
with timers to affix explosives onto targets, detonators, mortars,
shells, grenades, spare ammunition and night vision equipment
comprised the heavy lethal cargo carried by the Tigers.

Entering the Airbase

Meanwhile some Air force personnel came to the playground after
electricity supply was resumed to check out the "picnickers". There
were none. Empty soft drink cans, food parcel remains and biscuit and
chocolate wrappers were strewn around. The Air force personnel did not
suspect anything and told the residents who complained that the
"picnickers" must have left after their "bajaw" and returned. This was
a security lapse with grave consequences.

The Tiger squad reached a point about 400 metres from the outer fence
behind the Air base. There was an open stretch of land between the
fence and the outskirts of the coconut grove that was a "no go zone'
as it was heavily mined. Also the fence was too was electronically
activated and could electrocute intruders. There was however a
drainage canal that was partly sub - terranean. This was to prevent
flooding of the runways and tarmac during rainy season. The water
flowed through to a nearby marshy lagoon. It was stone dry now. The
Tigers now began to crawl through this drainage canal towards the
base.

The advance column infiltrated the outer limits of the base through
the canal and deactivated the electronic fence. The barbed wire was
then cut systematically. Thereafter the entire team with their weapons
and equipment got inside the base perimeter. The next step was to fix
explosives to the three transformers. The Tigers had accurate maps and
diagrams of the installation and knew exactly where everything was.
Some Tigers also moved towards the hangars and prepared to explode the
aircraft within.

At 3:15AM a single subdued shot was fired by one of the Tigers. Air
force sentries heard it and were puzzled but did not react sharply. It
is presumed that the shot was some form of signal to the squad which
divided itself into three main groups. The electric transformers were
blown up in rapid succession from 3:30 to 3:35AM. The Air base was
enveloped in darkness. The Air force did not suspect anything at even
this stage. Along with electricity board men attempts were on to check
out and restore powers supply again.

There were 350 Air force personnel of all categories in the base at
the time of attack.

While total darkness reigned the Tiger squad moved out in three
directions. One went clandestinely to the Airport terminal and climbed
on top of the control tower roof. One went inside the hangar premises
and started implanting explosives. The third went towards the tarmac
and commenced affixing explosives.

Explosions Then a Fire Fight

The first explosion took place at 3.50 am. It occurred where the
helicopters were parked. With the first explosion the Tigers started
breaking out and advancing. The sentry positions were taken one after
another. Prior knowledge of where each and every point was situated
helped the LTTE to move systematically. The Tigers concentrated
initially on targeting the base and next moved to the passenger
aircraft in the airport. The Tiger groups then subdivided themselves
into two formations with one exploding the aircraft intermittently and
the other providing cover fire.

The three Tigers on top of the control tower used the strategically
vantage point to obtain an aerial overview of the entire complex and
engage in firing. Segments of the Air Force were pinned down by these
marksmen. Later they kept security force formations trying to advance
at bay through firing. In the final stages, these gunners targeted
aircraft on the tarmac with heavy weapons successfully.

Even as fighting broke out the civilian authorities got alerted. 22
flights were scheduled to land an take off from midnight to noon on
Tuesday 24th. Only five were over when the attack began. Passengers
were off loaded, outgoing flights cancelled and incoming ones
diverted. There was however mass panic and pandemonium. Employees and
officials simply ran. Passengers and tourists were greatly frightened
and terrorised. A foreigner described the scene aptly to a foreign
news agency by saying the Sri Lankan Airport staff including security
men were "flapping about like headless chickens".

The long battle went on from 3:50 to 8:30 am. The tide began to turn
against the Tigers after a specialised commando unit of the rapid
deployment force arrived on the scene. The security forces who were
utterly confused in the dark, began to get their act together after
first light at the crack of dawn. The Tigers also began to run out of
ammunition and also get tired.

Even as a few Tigers made tactical withdrawals from the scene
according to a set game plan, the others began to fall one by one. At
least one Tiger was blown up with an exploding aircraft while some
others were shot dead. A few committed suicide after they ran out of
firepower or when surrounded.

The Sri Lankan commandoes used tear gas to immobilise two of the three
Tigers at the control tower . The third apparently was missing. One of
the guerrillas was found near the cooling plant on the roof and the
other in the baggage sorting section. The two had taken their lives.

14 Tigers Dead

Fourteen Tigers lay dead when the fighting was over. One body was
shattered to bits in the explosion. Five of the thirteen had taken
their own lives. The others had been shot dead by the security forces.
A lot of empty firearms and launchers were recovered. Ten security
personnel two from the army and eight from the air force were killed.
19 airmen and 5 soldiers were injured. A handful of civilians had got
injured of whom only two were admitted to hospital. These were an
Ukrainian flight engineer and a Rupavahini cameraman were injured. At
least seven Tigers are said to have escaped.

An intensive search has been launched to in the Kurana area to flush
out Tigers suspected to be hiding in the area. An island wide hunt was
launched for the luxury bus with several false alarms. True to form,
more than 50 Tamils have been arrested as suspects so far. In a bid to
impress the nation and the world the government ordered retaliatory
bombing raids in the North-East using two K-firs and two MIG - 27's. A
four member commission has been appointed to inquire into the incident
and identify security lapses.

The government has estimated the initial damage cost at 539.3 million
US dollars. In rupees it could be nearly 50 billion. The adverse
impact on tourism, foreign investment and foreign employment will be
tremendous. Finally what was the extent of the destruction caused? The
government has given certain figures but LTTE sources dispute them.
The "Eelanatham" published by the LTTE at Skanthapuram in the Tiger
controlled area of Kilinochchi district has in a special issue of July
26th claimed that the number of aircraft affected in the attack were
exactly double that of the official figures provided by the state. The
newspaper however has not quoted the LTTE on this but has made this
claim on the basis of information supplied by knowledgeable sources in
Colombo.

SLAF Losses

The Tigers have not issued any statement on the Katunayake attack so
far, although Tamil journals published in Sri Lanka and abroad have
given wide prominence to the incident. Since the "Eelanatham" is
directly controlled by the LTTE it is surmised that the relevant news
story is endorsed and approved by the LTTE hierarchy. According to the
"Eelanatham" 28 aircraft have been destroyed or damaged and not 14 as
stated by government circles. Of these 18 are completely destroyed
while 10 are substantially damaged.

The destroyed 18 aircraft are as according to the newspaper three
Airbuses ( 2 A - 340 - 300's and one A - 330 -200), four K-fir
bombers, three K - 8 trainer planes, two Mig - 27 jet fighters, Two MI
-17 helicopter gunship , two bell 412 helicopters and two VVIP 412
helicopters. Eelanatham has also said that the 10 damaged aircraft are
another three Airbuses (two A 320's and one A -330) four K-fir
bombers, one MI - 24 helicopter, One Antonov transport plane and one
Bell 412 helicopter.

The Eelanatham claim contrasts sharply with that of Colombo's figures
according to which eleven aircraft are destroyed and three damaged.
The official breakdown of those destroyed are three airbuses, three
K-8 trainer planes, two K- fir bombers, one MIG-27 jetfighter and two
MI-17 helicopter gunships. Three airbuses are damaged. According to
the Eelanatham the losses incurred by the Air Force has reduced its
bombing capability by 45 %%. The newly formed "Ten Squadron" fleet
utilised for bombing has lost two out of eight MIG - 27's and four out
of thirteen K-firs. In addition four K'firs are decommissioned due to
damage.

The Wanni newspaper has also stated that severe infrastructural
destruction has also been done. It says that the special bombing
storage facility used to keep lethal high explosive bombs was blown up
along with the contents inside. The Arms warehouse cum ammunition dump
within the airbase has also been demolished totally said the
newspaper. Also the fuel storage tank for the Air Base as well as
three oil tankers have been destroyed. The "Eelanatham" has charged
the government of trying to suppress the real facts about the attack
to prevent erosion of international confidence in the regime and also
because of fears that the Sinhala public would agitate against the
government, blaming it for the colossal losses incurred. Only time
will reveal which version of the destruction caused is correct.

PTA Arrested Tamils Released

The Attorney General on February 21, 2002 directed the Negombo
Magistrate to release all the thirty-two Tamils arrested and remanded
in connection with the attack on Sri Lanka Air Force head quarters at
Katunayake on July 24, 2001. All the suspects have been detained at
Kalutara prisons under the Prevention of Terrorism Act.

Sources: Sunday Leader, AFP