Missiles deter SLAF flights

[TamilNet, Thursday, 04 December 1997, 23:59 GMT]
Sources close to the Sri Lankan army in Batticaloa revealed today that SLAF flights to the eastern town are yet to be resumed because there is reliable intelligence that the Liberation Tigers have deployed surface to air missiles in the eastern areas under their control.

However the Sri Lankan intelligence establishment is yet to determine the type of missile currently in the LTTE's possession, according to the sources.

Pieces from the wrecked Mi-24 helicopter gunship which was shot down by the Tigers over southern Mullaithivu on November 11 are said to have been sent to the United Kingdom for analysis to determine the type of missile that the LTTE had used.

The farmers and business men in Batticaloa have been hit by cash shortage in the local banks due to the SLAF's inability to resume flights to the eastern town.

Banks have stopped all pawning and have limited loans and overdraft facilities to 25000 rupees.

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