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Sri Lankan Air Force Commanders Removed After Rebel Attack
The commanders of Sri Lanka's main air base at Katunayake, which was attacked by separatist Tamil Tiger rebels on Tuesday, have been removed from their posts, military sources said.
Air Commodore R.A. Ananda and Ground Defense Officer Wing Commander Nihal Ratnayake were removed under the orders of air force commander, Air Marshal Jayalath Weerekkody, apparently due to the security lapse at the air force base.
Air Commodore Channa Gunaratne, Director of General Engineering at the Air Force Headquarters, has been appointed as the new base commander and Krishan Yahampath, a staff officer at the Directorate of Operations, will take over as the ground defense officer. They will resume office on Monday.
The air force is conducting a top level inquiry into Tuesday's pre-dawn attack by Tamil Tiger rebels against the air force and adjoining Bandaranaike International Airport, some 30 kilometers northeast of capital Colombo.
More changes are expected to be made after a five-member team completes their investigations into the rebel attack, sources said.
Tamil Tiger rebels destroyed eight military aircraft at the Katunayake airbase before they shifted their attack to adjoining international airport, completely destroying three airbus planes and damaging another three.
A total of 14 Tamil rebels and seven military personnel were killed in the fighting which lasted several hours.
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