With the army steadily advancing on the remaining LTTE
strongholds east of A9 and north of the Mankulam-Mullaitivu road, three
runways located in this area will never be able to be used at least once,
to bring in an arms load. The runways will come within artillery and mortar range as
the area under LTTE controls shrinks. But the SLAF is not taking any
chances.
The
Jane’s, in an article headlined Fight and flight-The LTTE’s air
cargo ambitions released on November 13, 2008, mentioned the SLN’s
proven ability to identify, intercept and sink rogue ships, combined
with the growing difficulties in landing their cargoes, may well have
encouraged a shift towards air deliveries.
