Prabhakaran honours LTTE 'pilots'

T.V. Sriram

Colombo, Nov 2 (PTI) Notwithstanding Sri Lankan
government's assertions that the recent Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (L.T.T.E.) air raids on its bases caused minor
damage, elusive Tiger Supremo V. Prabhakaran has honoured his
'pilots' who carried out the attacks on a power station here
and a military base in the restive Mannar.

Minister of Power and Energy W.D.J. Senaviratne said the
L.T.T.E. air attack targeting the Kelanitissa Power Station
here earlier this week was an "abortive mission of the
terrorists" in which "minor damage" was caused to the station
and the power supply process was not affected.

Officials also said that L.T.T.E. aircraft dropped two
bombs at the Kelanitissa power station and caused minor damage
to the FIAT (GT7) gas turbine power generator and the combined
cycle power machine. They said the L.T.T.E. failed in their
attempt to destroy the Power Station.

Prior to the Colombo air attack, an L.T.T.E. light
aircraft dropped three bombs targeting the Thallady army camp
in northwestern Mannar on Tuesday, causing minor injuries to
three army soldiers, the military said.

However, Prabhakaran conferred "awards of valour" to
Tiger pilots who "excelled in their performance" during the
L.T.T.E. operations in the Vavuniya region and the air attacks
in Colombo and Mannar, the pro-rebel Tamilnet website
reported.

In the pictures released by the outfit, a stout-looking
Prabhakaran in his army fatigue was shown honouring the
L.T.T.E. commandos.

The L.T.T.E.'s 'Tamileelam Air Force (T.A.F.)' men who
carried out five consecutive raids on Sri Lankan targets
received the Blue Tiger Award (Neelap Puli Viruthu), the
Tamilnet said.

The Air Tiger pilots who participated in three
consecutive air attacks received the 'Warriors Award of Tamil
Eelam' (Thamizheezha Ma'ravar Viruthu) from Prabhakaran.

"Kiddu artillery formation" received special awards for
their joint operation against the Sri Lankan forces in
Vavuniya on September 9," the Tamilnet said.

Several commanders of the L.T.T.E. and its senior
officials took part in the award ceremony at an undisclosed
venue in Wanni, where they also paid homage to the Black Tiger
Commandos killed in the Vavuniya operations, the report said.

Prior to the last Tuesday's attacks, the Tigers had
carried out an air and ground strike on a military camp in the
northern town of Vavuniya in September, killing 11 soldiers.
The military had then said it had shot down one of the rebel
planes.

The L.T.T.E. is believed to have at least two
Czech-built Zlin ZO 143's light aircraft which it suspected to
have acquired between April and July, 2006.

The L.T.T.E. Air Force came into prominence when it
struck the Sri Lankan military air base inside Colombo's
international airport in March, 2007.