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Tiger bid to bring remote control planes foiled

The Navy yesterday detected a large haul of war like equipment including a remote controlled aircraft with 5.5 metre long fuselage having a wing span of three metres after detecting and destroying two LTTE boats heading towards Vedithalthivu in the early hours of yesterday.

The Navy believes the LTTE was trying to use more complicated terror strategies with the deployment of these remote controlled aircraft and a remote controlled helicopter along with remote control devices that can be used to detonate claymore mines.

Navy Spokesman Commander D.K.P Dassanayaka told the Daily News that the two LTTE boats were first detected on the radar screen on board the IPC’s yesterday around 5.30 a.m. The IPCs intercepted the two Tiger boats five nautical miles north of Thalaimannar as they were heading towards Vedithalthivu in the LTTE held areas in the North of Mannar to unload war like material.

The two Tiger craft were partially destroyed in the ensuing gun battle between the LTTE and the Navy killing four Tiger cadres on board the LTTE boats.

The Navy through the intercepted radio communications of the LTTE confirmed that two self-styled Lieutenant Colonel ‘Manni’ and ‘Punam’ were among the four Tiger cadres killed in the sea battle.

According to sources one-self styled Lt. Col. Valluvan had handled the operation from the shore. Valluvan was supposed to be the leader responsible for hijacking the Indian fishing trawler Sri Krishna in April this year and detaining 12 Indian fishermen under LTTE custody.

Navy confirmed that the two boats reached the Sri Lanka territorial waters from the International Maritime Boundary Line.

Indian fishing trawler Sri Krishna was later detected in the Maldivian seas while LTTE was using it for arms smuggling to the LTTE held areas in the Wanni.

In the subsequent search operation carried out after the sea confrontation, naval troops recovered a large haul of war equipment including a remote controlled aircraft with a 5.5 feet long fuselage.

The aircraft was remote-controlled enabling it be deployed on aerial attacks and surveillance missions.

In addition, a toy-type helicopter with remote controls to be used for the same purpose was also among the recovered items.

Among the recovered items were 300 litres of hydraulic oil in 15 cans each containing 20 litres, four ICOM sets, ten GPS sets, four satellite phones, 100 PCB’s and 45 antennas used for radio sets.

The two boats have been towed to the naval base at Thalaimannar.

“This is the first time in the history of the military operations against the LTTE, Sri Lanka Navy has been able to capture an aircraft in the possession of the enemy,” Commander D.K.P. Dassanayaka said adding that they could avert a major calamity by foiling the LTTE attempt to smuggle the war like items to uncleared areas.

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