18.12.2007
No fly Zones declared
It
is not only Sri Lanka that is concerned about the air
power of the Tigers but India also seems alarmed at their
efforts to use the skies for the random terrorist attacks.While
the Sri Lankan Government has taken steps to introduce
flight restriction zones in high security areas in order
to counter possible threats by air by the LTTE, India
has also taken precautionary steps against possible air
attacks, it is reported.
New
regulations were published by a Government Gazette notification
declaring the entire space over Sri Lanka and the territorial
waters as an Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ). The
regulations named certain areas as ‘No -Fly Zones’
and Flight Restricted Zones over certain military, strategic,
economic and religious places. Such areas are the Dalada
Maligawa area, Diyathalawa Army Camp area, the Colombo
city, sacred city of Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Vavuniya, Trincomalee
and Tangalle.
The
regulations are aimed at countering the entry by air-wing
of the LTTE.
In
like manner the Indian Armed Forces carried out a military
exercise in the Southern State of Tamil Nadu, code named
‘Dakshin Prahar’ aimed at protecting oil tankers,
nuclear installations and Ports against air raids particularly
from non-state sectors such as the LTTE or Al- Qaeda.
A
high powered Indian defence delegation was scheduled to
visit Sri Lanka today (18) to discuss Sri Lanka’s
Air Defence System and military cooperation between the
two countries among other matters.
Courtesy
- Government Information