Away until 2 May
April 27, 2007 by haziamyperspective
Report of planes trips S.Lankan air defences
By Ranga Sirilal
COLOMBO, April 26 (Reuters) - Sri Lankan authorities temporarily closed Colombo international airport and cut power to the city late on Thursday after reports suspicious airplanes were seen flying south along the coast, the military said.
Witnesses said they saw parachute flares fired into the sky and heard what sounded like anti-aircraft guns, and flag carrier SriLankan Airlines diverted three inbound international flights.
The air raid scare came two days after the Tamil Tiger rebels’ newly unveiled air wing staged its second attack ever, dropping bombs on a military position in the north killing six people. The rebels’ first air strike was on the air force base next to Colombo airport, and it took the military by surprise.
"Some civilians in Puttalam district had seen three aircraft flying from north to south hugging the sea. With suspicion, contingency plans have been activated because of the imminent risk of threat, closing off the entrance of the airport and switching power off," a senior military source said.
Puttalam is about 130 km (80 miles) north of Colombo on the western coast of the Indian Ocean island.
Analysts believe the Tamil Tigers’ air force consists of just two to five light propeller planes assembled from pieces smuggled in over time.
"Only the air defence system is activated, that is all. There was information saying there is suspected aircraft movement, so the air defence system is on all over the place and we are also doing a search," air force spokesman Ajantha de Silva said…
Due to the recent development in Sri Lanka, 3 of my colleagues have decided to pull out from our all-paid-for company trip tomorrow. It wasn’t decided yet on whether they should repay the company. But they were willing to do so.
On the other hand, despite how not-in-the-mood I’ve been eversince we first discussed this, I have decided to brave it. Like a colleague said, ‘when your time comes, you would go’. Even if you don’t fly, the airplane would come and get you!
Besides, I really need the distraction and the opportunity to re-look at the latest situation in a different environment and state of mind.
Believe it or not, a head hunter had just called me on a new job opportunity. We are meeting up on 3 May.
Bye and see you on 2 May 2007.
