Aerial strikes will continue after weekend raid

The Tamil Tigers have warned that their air force will continue to launch attacks after a weekend of escalating violence in which Sri Lanka’s military claimed to have killed 14 insurgents.

Although experts believe that the Tigers’ air force is as small as five light aircraft, its most recent attack forced the closure of an oil company’s main storage facility north of the capital Colombo.

The pre-dawn raid, the third by the rebels in a month, threw the capital into darkness whilst rockets lit up the sky. Authorities were forced to cut off power to the city and the international airport was also closed. Bars packed with supporters of the national cricket team watching their side in the World Cup final against Australia were also forced to be evacuated.

A spokesperson for the Tigers’ told Reuters, “The Sri Lankan military, especially the air force, are adamantly trying to prove they will always seek a military solution.

“So we have no other way than to take our own measures,” he added, “There will definitely be more [raids]. We have no choice other than striking back.”

A spokesperson for Sri Lanka’s military said that the recent development of the Tigers’ aerial attacks was a worrying new dimension. He said, “We are trying to get some more advanced [defence] systems. To neutralise them either in the air or on the ground is a requirement.”

Sri Lanka’s shares fell abruptly on Monday and the local rupee hit a new low against the dollar.

Read more on the background of the situation in Sri Lanka