A'Pura attack:''set up a proper system it takes 5-6 years"AFChief

Sri Lanka: Vital Areas are Protected Now, says Air Force Chief
Oct 26, 2007, 17:24 Colombo –

*''set up a proper system it takes 5-6 years", he said.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), The Sri Lankan Air force Commander Roshan Goonatilleke said vital areas are now protected. Meanwhile, Lankan Prime Minister Wickramanayake, Wednesday, admitted the first ever combined air and land pre-dawn attack on last Monday on a highly secured front line air base in Anuradhapura by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) losses were far greater than admitted by them earlier.

He told the parliament on Wednesday, at least eight aircraft were completely damaged by the rebels tallying the earlier statement by the rebels on the attack. According to the reliable informed military sources at least 18 aircraft were lost together with, electronic spy materials, spare parts for the aircrafts, arms and ammunitions while handful of aircraft survived the havocs on the air base on Monday needed major overhaul to be airborne again.

Roshan Goonatilleke, Air Force Chief The Sri Lankan Air force Commander Roshan Goonatilleke said, their aid force capability anyway dented by the attack on Anuradhapura on last Monday.

"Our capability has not been reduced in any way", he said.

"We have taken action rapidly to set up the system, to set up a proper system it takes 5-6 years", he said.

"Certain areas are vulnerable and certain areas are not vulnerable. From whatever (systems) we have, we have protected certain places. But we can't protect the whole of Sri Lanka until we get (what) we want," said Goonetileke, adding that vital areas are now protected.

Sri Lanka Air Force's Kfir and MiG fighter bombers have been constantly taking up rebel positions since the conflict escalated since the end of 2005. But analysts believe without the trainers, attacks helicopters, and spy planes the Kfir and Mig will not be effective in fighting against the rebels.

The security of the Anuradhapura region has been intensified with the appointment of Major General. Sanath Karunaratne as the Commander of the Security Forces in the region.

After the rebels attack on the air base president Mahinda Rajapaksa ordered a shakeup in the security personals in charge of the air bases in and around the country and appointed Major General. Sanath Karunaratne overall commander for the security of the Anuradhapura air base while military taken over the security of the air bases in the country

More than 5,792 people have been killed including at least 10 journalists and 56 aid workers since November 2005 while human rights groups say that more than 1,000 people have "disappeared" and thousands were abducted.