Sri Lanka and Friends

by Peter Ratnadurai, September 5, 2009

Who are Sri Lanka's friends? Which countries shifted the balance of power between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan military in 2001?

What follows is a simple evaluation of equipment introduced by the Sri Lankan military during the “ceasefire” period between 2001 and 2006. Of course, economic and diplomatic assistance played an equal role in the grand strategy; that shall be explored in a later article.

Many of the findings, on this occasion, may come as a surprise to the Tamils who blindly blame China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran for many of our ills.

Army

Equipment used by the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) can be divided into three broad categories: armour, artillery and infantry weapons.

There were numerical additions to Ukrainian and Chinese tanks. But, since SLA had abandoned column movement strategy, following the failure of “Victory Assured”, no new models were introduced. A few more locally manufactured Unibuffel personnel carriers were also added to the inventory.

Traditionally, the SLA had used a number of heavy mortars and Chinese made 122mm, 130mm and 152mm towed artillery guns. In 1996 the LTTE captured three 122mm artillery guns, with which it formed its own 'Kittu' Artillery Regiment. These guns were used in the Unceasing Waves II and III operation, during which more than a dozen larger guns were added to the LTTE's arsenal.

There were two additions to the artillery section of the SLA. First was the procurement of more than 40 RM-70 Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) from the Czech Republic (an EU member state). According to the SLA, introduction of MBRLs was pivotal in shifting fire-power from regular duels between the two sides to complete dominance of the SLA. The second was the introduction of several American made AN/TPQ-36 Firefinder radars. These were used to locate and destroy LTTE gun locations.

Almost all members of the Sri Lankan military have been using Chinese made T56 and T86 assault rifles. Russian SVD sniper rifles and T80 and T56 machine guns are used for special operations. By 2001, the LTTE also had plenty of these weapons, captured from the Vanni during Unceasing Waves III.

During the ceasefire, the SLA was equipped with American M4 carbine (Special Forces) and M16 assault rifles. British Accuracy International Arctic Warfare sniper rifles and American M203 grenade launchers were used for special operations in Eelam War IV. Pakistani Baktar-Shikan anti-tank guided missiles were used to destroy LTTE vehicles.

Navy

By 2001, the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) was virtually destroyed. It was squarely defeated by the Sea Tigers, who sunk several vessels in 2000. The ceasefire period was used to made three vital additions to the SLN.

Firstly, it acquired blue water operational capability to find and destroy LTTE supply vessels. Three Indian and an American Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), all donated, enabled this new unit to be operational. They sunk around a dozen LTTE supply vessels during Eelam War IV.

Secondly, existing fast attacks crafts were equipped with Israeli Gabriel anti-ship missiles and American Bushmaster auto cannons to counter the growing fleet of Sea Tiger gunboats.

Thirdly, the Special Boat Squadron (Special Forces of the Navy) was developed and re-trained by Britain's Royal Navy.

Air Force

MIG27 ground bombers were purchased from Ukraine (via British companies) to bolster the existing fleet of Israeli Kfir fighter bombers. Chinese F7 interceptor aircraft were added later to neutralise the Tamileelam Air Force (TAF).

An additional American C-130 Hercules (bought from Britain) was included to the transport fleet to allow more evacuations from the North East to Colombo.

Around a dozen MI-24 (MI-35) helicopter gunships were bought from the Czech Republic to bolster close air support capabilities of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF). There were extensively used in the Vanni.

The real assets of the SLAF, during Eelam War IV, were the new spy planes. Several Cessna 421 Golden Eagle and two Beechcraft Super King aircraft were bought from the United States for maritime and ground surveillance. Close ground surveillance was carried out by Israeli IAI Searcher Mk II and EMIT Blue Horizon 2 unmanned aerial vehicles.

Friends, Foes and Heads in Sand

This article may be hard reality for some Tamils who have their heads buried in a “China destroyed us” mentality. In my opinion, this kind of evaluation has been long overdue. Analysis of economic and diplomatic assistance offered by foreign states to Colombo would also be timely.

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இழிவாக வாழோம் தமிழீழப் போரில் இனிமேலும் ஓயோம் உறுதி.

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