Front Page

Front Page

“Trinco naval base is vulnerable”, US military warns Lanka
By Iqbal Athas
A high powered United States military team has declared that land areas south of Trincomalee must be secured by the security forces from the Tiger guerrillas if this strategic port is to be protected.

Warning that the "vulnerable position that currently exists could essentially level the majority of the Sri Lanka Navy fleet," the team has said "without control of this area the defence of Trincomalee harbour will always be a losing battle." It has added that "the ability to prosecute the war would be detrimentally affected."

The 26- member military team is from the US Pacific Command (PACOM) with its headquarters in Hawaii and was in Sri Lanka from September 30 to October 10, last year. They examined the Army, Navy and Air Force from operational and tactical levels to determine capabilities, needs and requirements of each.

The visit, seven months after the UNF Government signed a Ceasefire Agreement with the LTTE, led to the military team visiting important installations of the security forces countrywide. Colonel John A. Kardos of the PACOM headed it and the visit was co-ordinated by the US Defence Attache in Sri Lanka, Lt. Col. Richard Girven.

The team handed over a lengthy report on the Army, Navy and Air Force to the Ministry of Defence. Their recommendations on Trincomalee have become relevant in view of the mounting controversy between the UNF Government and opposition People's Alliance over Tiger guerrillas setting up new military camps to encircle Trincomalee including the strategic port.

The Government this week claimed that no new camps have come up except for the controversial Manirasakulam (Kuranku Paanchan Kulam) camp near Kinniya in the Trincomalee district. However, security forces accounts have contradicted this Government claim.

Dealing with Trincomalee the PACOM report says "The most important base for SLN (Sri Lanka Navy) is without question Trincomalee Harbour. From this area, the LTTE have effectively monitored all ship movement in and out of the Harbour, launch suicide and artillery attacks against the Naval base and could potentially destroy any vessel coming in and out of the harbour.

The SL Army is responsible for this area but they have been unable to completely secure it." The PACOM team has made a series of recommendations to overcome the situation. See Situation Report by Iqbal Athas on Page 11 for a detailed account on the PACOM study and how a cover up of a Tiger build up in Trincomalee has failed.

Back to Front Page