Wednesday 30 April 2008

Air Force unpreparedness; 'Is it betrayal?' Asks UNP

United National Party (UNP) says that Air Force unpreparedness while the security forces are fighting amounts to betrayal.

UNP made these comments in a statement issued by UNP media chief Kandy district MP Lakshman Kiriella on the LTTE air raid in Welioya.
usual delay of the Air Force
Criticizing the usual delay of the Air Force, the UNP says that the Air Force should have been alert as the LTTE was retreating from Madu and fighting was raging in Muhamalai. But the LTTE air bombing in Welioya proved that such preparedness was not in the Air Force, said the UNP.
The government reported a LTTE air raid in Welioya on April 26. LTTE aircrafts carried out bombing operations in Colombo, city outskirts and in Anuradhapura previously. But the security forces repeatedly said that the LTTE aircrafts and runaways were completely destroyed.

Although the Air Force should have been on alert on the LTTE aircrafts and their sorties, the LTTE could complete its mission due to the delay of the Air Force. As the government has announced, Air Force has all military equipment including Mig fighter crafts. UNP expresses doubt why the Mig fighter crafts were not used to destroy the LTTE aircrafts that were traced by radars.

Air Force should have been in full alert as the LTTE was retreating from Madu and fighting was raging in Muhamalai. However, LTTE air raid proved that the Air Force was not prepared. Not providing air assistance to the war heroes who were fighting in Muhamalai was also dubious. Air Force unpreparedness while the forces are fighting can be defined as betrayal. UNP expresses hopes that the government and the security forces chiefs will follow strict measures to avoid the LTTE air raids and to demolish LTTE's air power.

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