In the wake of the LTTE air strike on an airbase near Colombo, the IAF, while telling the Government not to get over-exercised over the Tigers’ air capability, has suggested that future Lankan requests for supply of air defence radars, IGLA shoulder-fired missiles and surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems should be considered.Government sources have confirmed to The Indian Express that the Indira II radar, supplied by India and installed at the Katunayake airbase near Colombo, had been switched off at the time of the LTTE air attack at 0045 hours on March 26. The other Indira II radar has been deployed by Lankan forces in the eastern part of the country and had been pulled south this year.While New Delhi is still to get a final report on the attack, it’s learnt that the LTTE has been using airstrips near Iranamadu and Mullaitivu to operate two modified Z-143 aircraft and two helicopters. After the attack, New Delhi tried contacting Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Donald Pereira but Colombo was still to get back.Given the political sensitivity of the Tamil issue within the DMK-backed UPA government, New Delhi will restrict itself to supply of only air defence systems and has no plans to hand offensive weapons to Colombo. New Delhi had earlier said a polite no to Lankan requests for MiG-27 fighters from India. But IAF air defence personnel are helping Colombo man the Indira II radars and have even trained the Sri Lankan Air force personnel on MiG -27 fighters. Despite the LTTE attack, the Indian team is not being withdrawn from the Katunayake airbase. After the attack, Sri Lanka has not asked India for any military hardware. New Delhi has already supplied IGLA shoulder-fired missiles and has asked Colombo to get in touch with the Russians — due to intellectual property rights and end-user agreements — if it wants SAM systems from India. The LTTE attack figured in the talks between Air Chief Marshal S P Tyagi and Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday.
