A senior defence official told defence.lk that at least two groups of LTTE cadres including suicide bombers had come for the ground attack.

Meanwhile, seven security forces' personnel including one army personnel made the supreme sacrifice for their motherland while defending the vital air base against terror attack. Twenty security forces personnel sustained injuries and admitted to military hospital Anuradhapura.

A group of LTTE terrorists infiltrated the air base around 3.20 this morning (October 22) and launched a massive sabotage attempt at the air force assets. Also, two LTTE light aircraft dropped two bombs targeting the airbase around 4.a.m. while the ground attack was continuing.

According to the available information two Russian built MI 24 helicopter gunships and a K8 air craft on ground were severely damaged in the attack.

Meanwhile, it has been reported that a Bell 212 helicopter which was pursuing the terror aircraft was crashed onto Doramadalawa, in the Mihinthale area during the confrontation. According to the sources the two pilots and two gunners who were onboard the helicopter, have died in the incident.

The helicopter was called in for assistance from Vavuniya, air force sources said. The reason for the crash is suspected to be a technical failure. However, air force sources added that further investigations would be necessary to make more accurate conclusion.

Search operations are continuing.
LTTE is a ruthless terrorist organization fighting since 1983 for an ethnically pure, separate homeland for the Tamils living in Sri Lanka. The outfit which operates on ideologies based on extreme tribalism has killed over 65,000 people in its two and half decade terrorist war against Sri Lankan citizens.

Backed by its strong propaganda machinery, the LTTE has been able to hoodwink the international community about its true nature, and thereby to enjoy much freedom and carry out massive fund raising activities than any other terror outfit in the world. LTTE has made a major contribution to global terrorism by pioneering terror tactics in suicide bombing, seaborne and clandestine operations and most recently the airborne operations. Jane's Intelligence Review recently revealed that LTTE earns an annual income of US$ 300 million.