A five-member team from the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) was in India last month examining the training facilities available for air defence as well as equipment to counter air threats, the Sunday Times reported this week.



The move is prompted by the reported acquisition of air capability by the Liberation Tigers, the paper said.



The five SLAF officials met the Commander of Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi, and other high ranking Indians.



The Sunday Times reported that though the SLAF team inspected air defence equipment, no decision has been made to procure them so far.



However, the Sri Lankan government has obtained part of these needs, said to be more advanced than the ones manufactured in India, from another source, the paper added, without elaborating.



The Sri Lankan team visited the main IAF air defence facility in Lucknow, the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh where they saw air defence operations systems and how personnel are trained. They also visited Uterlai in the state of Rajasthan where they saw air defence equipment including radars.



Thereafter the team proceeded to Jalahalli in Bangalore, the largest training establishment of the Indian Air Force.



At present 20 SLAF personnel are undergoing training at this training facility in various fields including electrical and electronic courses.



The SLAF team’s visit to India came in the wake of talks President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga held with Indian Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh during a three-day visit to New Delhi beginning June 2 this year.



Among other matters, both leaders had discussed the Tiger guerrilla acquisition of air capability, the paper added.



A joint statement issued at the end of the visit noted that “particular concern was expressed over the illegal acquisition of air capability.”



Before these high level talks in New Delhi, Indian External Affairs Minister Kanwar Natwar Singh declared that India is concerned about information that the LTTE had built an airstrip and acquired aircraft. He told the Chennai based The Hindu newspaper the LTTE was believed to be getting more aircraft.



The Sri Lankan government also circulated an aide memoire to several countries giving details of how the LTTE constructed a runway and acquired aircraft, saying this constituted a threat to the entire region and was in violation of the Ceasefire Agreement.



A report from the SLAF delegation to India is learnt to have been sent to the Ministry of Defence. The latter is expected to finalise the training package for the Air Force.



The Sri Lankan team was led by Air Vice Marshal Channa Gunaratne, the Director of Planning at SLAF headquarters and comprised Air Commodore Roshan Gunathilake (Director of Operations), Group Captain Gagan Bulathsinhala (Commander of the China Bay SLAF Base), Group Captain Rohan Pathirage (Commanding Officer of the Electronics and Telecommunications Wing at the Ratmalana SLAF Base), and Group Captain Vijitha Gunaratne (Commanding Officer of the SLAF base at the Bandaranaike International Airport).