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Lanka to get Israeli combat vessels

The Sri Lankan navy will soon get combat craft from Israel to fight the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's naval wing, the Sea Tigers. These vessels can carry missiles, with a maximum range of 36 km, which could be launched from different platforms, including off-shore.

Last month, Sri Lanka re-established diplomatic ties with Israel after the military suffered a setback in the fighting against the LTTE in northern Jaffna.

The strengthening of the navy follows a decision by military planners and the government to neutralise the LTTE's naval bases.

The state-controlled Sunday Observer reported that the new strategy will be adopted to squeeze vital ordnance supply lines by striking at Sea Tiger bases and clandestine harbours.

The difficulty faced by the Sri Lankan air force in spotting these bases and failure of the artillery to target them have long inhibited the security forces' ability to effectively neutralise the Sea Tigers.

The new vessels will enable the Lankan navy to bombard Sea Tiger bases from a safe distance. Military planners, thus, hope to neutralise the Sea Tigers, particularly along the eastern coastline from Mullaitivu to Alampil and in the Challai sector.

Some of the navy's Israel-built Dvora Fast Attack Craft are equipped with computer-guided weapon systems. The navy now plans to upgrade its fleet of Dvora FACs.

The Sri Lankan air force had already acquired Israel-built Kfir jet planes that are effectively used in bombardment of enemy positions. Meanwhile, at least 14 rebels were killed in northern Jaffna, while terrorists abducted two civilians and forcibly took away three fishing boats in eastern Batticaloa overnight.

A government release said troops observed a group of eight terrorists clearing the route at Karadiyabkadu. The troops directed their artillery and mortar at the rebels killing everyone. In another incident, troops killed three terrorists.

A fighting patrol operating ahead of defences in Vempoktukerni came across some rebels and engaged them with small arms fire killing another three.

In Batticaloa, terrorists abducted two civilians following their refusal to pay a ransom of Rs three lakh. Terrorists also forcibly took away three fishing boats belonging to local fishermen.

UNI

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