Sri Lankan Air Force has found components of LTTE light Aircraft or a Glider in a partially destroyed container at Kareimulliwaikkal area in the former rebel’s stronghold of Pudukuduirippu.
A cache of partially damaged arms and ammunitions were also discovered from Wellamullawaikkal area.
Pilot Officer P.S.D.D. Rupasinghe recovered the items on August 29, based on the information provided by two ex-LTTE cadres, the Defence Ministry said.
The ex-LTTE cadres had first guided the team to recover the arms cache in general area Wellamullawaikkal.
Following the discovery, of arms, the ex-LTTE cadres directed the team towards a location in Kareimulliwaikkal and recovered burnt out components which are considered those used on light Air Craft or Gliders, the Ministry said.
The items included a couple of engines burnt almost out of recognition and some other components such as lights, levers, wheels and pedals, etc.
Attempts to specifically identify of the components will get underway soon, it said.
The team also recovered satellite phone, satellite phone antenna receiver unit, satellite phone battery charger unit, crocodile clips and LTTE bill books from the area, it said.
It may be recalled that two light aircraft of the vanquished LTTE attacked Colombo in February last year leaving at least two people dead and close to 50 injured.
The LTTE air force came into prominence when it struck the Sri Lankan military air base inside Colombo’s international airport in March, 2007.
It was estimated that the LTTE during the last stages of the war could have been in possession of at least three Czech-built Zlin ZO 143’s light aircrafts which were likely acquired between April and July, 2006. These were used sporadically to attack military bases and other facilities.
