Year on the Web
Year on the Web
Small group, big damage
A civilian employee attached to the Navy’s Eastern Command headquarters in Trincomalee helped LTTE plan out the attack on the SLAF Base in Trincomalee on March 6.
A well kept secret was the arrest by the Army of at least two of the fleeing attackers.
After they bared the details, the man has been arrested. Contrary to earlier reports, it was a small group that had taken part.
The civilian employee who was on reconnaissance, they say, was able to gain entry into the China Bay base in the vehicle of a supplier.
It was not only the Chinese built Y 12 aircraft that was destroyed by the LTTE during the attack, Also knocked out were two ZV 23 anti aircraft guns that were positioned at the airbase.
Another reward
President Chandrika Kumaratunga, this week bestowed the Army’s second highest award, Veera Wickrema Vibushana, to Captain Sudath Dabare.
Although the LTTE temporarily over-ran the Vavunativu Army camp on March 6, Captain Dabare (the Commanding Officer) made it difficult for them. His actions, which came in for praise by his men, led to more than 131 Tiger deaths. He richly deserved the honour.
Captain Dabare was able to make it hard for the LTTE because there was advance warning of the attack by Military Intelligence.
The man who passed on the information was Major Saman Wedagama of the Directorate of Military Intelligence. He later led the re-enforcements to regain control of the camp. He has been rewarded for that.
But some top brass were wondering whether the man who tipped off had been over-looked or over-shadowed. They are taking up the matter with the big boss.
Blue on blue
In military parlance they call it “blue on blue” or just simply “friendly fire.’ A group of armed boys from Douglas Devananda’s Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) were heading by boat from Jaffna to the Delft Island when gunfire rained on them last Wednesday
EPDP cadres manning gun turrets at Delft (an island under EPDP control) thought it was a boatload of LTTE attackers.
When the confusion cleared, two EPDP cadres were dead and one wounded. It was a case of mistaken identity.
Fried chicken for Police chief
If he was among the living, Colonel Sanders would have been very pleased.
Amidst all the violence that accompanied the local government election campaign, Inspector General of Police, W.B. Rajaguru, found time off to enjoy some Kentucky Fried Chicken at the Majestic City just the other week.
He clutched a tray, walked in the queue to get the stuff which is touted as finger licking good. There were no bodyguards, no helpers.
There was only Mrs Rajaguru to share in the KFC.
Return to the Editorial/Opinion contents page