LTTE has no aircraft left, says Sri Lanka

The LTTE's air power has almost collapsed after two rebel aircraft, which entered the Colombo sky to carry out a suicide mission, were destroyed by the security forces, officials said today.

"I do not think the LTTE has any more aircraft left. The two planes took off from a restricted air strip in Pudukudirippu and came to Colombo through Mankulam and Mannar," the officials said adding they were detected on time failing which the damage to Colombo could have been quite high.

Contacted, military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said defence authorities had estimated the LTTE to have three aircraft of which one was destroyed a few months ago and the other two on Friday.

The defence authorities had claimed that the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) destroyed the first aircraft on September 9 when the LTTE carried out an air and ground attack on the air force base in Vavuniya.