The recent bungling of a disputed operation to track down a ship-load of armaments to the Tigers off Sri Lanka revealed the insufficiency of air surveillance capability to monitor illegal sea movements.

Contrary to claims and speculation, Sri Lanka was tipped off of the impending ship movement by a ‘source’ that was not Indian. A joint air and naval operation was unable to get off the ground swiftly as one of Airforce’s two US built Beachcraft was grounded. It was not the only aircraft grounded but just one among several including the two largest C-130 transport aircraft. The two C-130s have been grounded for over a year.

"Non-availability of the Beachcraft was a huge setback," an authoritative source said, adding "we sought India’s help to track down the ship. Instead of India passing us information as widely speculated we went to them for help on a priority basis. We haven’t the required capability."

The joint search was not successful, the source said, stressing that there was no truth in claims that Indian and Sri Lanka airforces were able to obtain photographic evidence. During the search the Sri Lankan navy intercepted two foreign vessels but they were allowed to proceed.

The navy dismissed claims that the operation failed as the Tigers were able to get prior information of the proposed search as a result of a leak. "There was no leak," the official said. He denied reports of a top-level internal inquiry to find out whether a senior officer or officers had passed information to enable the Tigers to divert the ship.

Authoritative defence sources said the Airforce lacks dedicated fixed wing surveillance aircraft and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles one of which crashed in Jaffna late last month. — (SF)