17.12.2007
By Ameen Izzadeen
In
a bid to counter the threat posed by the air wing of the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the government
has promulgated flight-restriction zones in the air space
of Sri Lanka.
New regulations published in a government gazette notification
declare the entire air space over Sri Lanka’s territory
and the territorial waters as an Air Defence Identification
Zone (ADIZ).
The
regulations also spell out no-fly zones and flight-restriction
zones over military, strategic, economic and religious
places. The airspace over Tangalle, President Mahinda
Rajapaksa’s hometown in the deep south, has also
been declared a flight-restriction zone. So is the airspace
over Dalada Maligawa, a hallowed Buddhist shrine in Kandy.
Among
the other areas that are protected under the new regulations
are the Colombo city, Anuradhapura, which houses the airbase
that came under LTTE attack in October, Jaffna, Vavuniya
and Trincomalee.
Aircraft
operators are required to obtain permission from the Air
Force before they fly over the restricted zones.
Any
aircraft flying without permission over these no-fly or
restricted areas will be liable for interception, the
regulations warn.
The
regulations are aimed at countering the threat posed by
the LTTE which has acquired air capability.
The
LTTE air wing has carried out at least three attacks –
twice in Colombo and once in Anuradhapura.
Defence
analysts believe the LTTE has two to five light aircraft.
The
two of the aircraft seen in action so far are Czech-built
Zlin Z-143s, according to Unieted States military experts
who studied photographs taken by unmanned aerial vehicles.
It
is not only Sri Lank that is worried about the Tigers’
air power. But neighbouring India also is taking the threat
seriously.
Early
last week the Indian armed forces carried out a military
exercise in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The
exercise which has been codenamed Operation Dakshin Prahar
was aimed at protecting oil tankers, nuclear installations
and ports against air raids particularly from "non-state
actors" — a reference to groups such as the
LTTE or Al Qaeda which is alleged to have carried out
the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, using
hijacked civilian aircraft.
Defence
sources in Colmobo, meanwhile, said a high-powered Indian
defence delegation was to visit Sri Lanka today to discuss
among other matters, Sri Lanka’s air defence system
and military cooperation between the two countries.
Courtesy - Khaleej
Times