Sunday, May 24, 2009

Colombo international airport continues to be secy fortress

Colombo international airport continues to be secy fortress



Colombo international airport continues to be secy fortress Curtains on the 30-year-old civil war may have come down with the end of the LTTE, but the Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo continues to be a virtual fortress with gun-totting security personnel manning the complex round-the-clock not wanting to take any chances.

The only international airport in Sri Lanka, located on the outskirts of Colombo, was targeted by LTTE twice.

“The situation is 90 per cent safe. But we don’t want to take chances,” said an army commando at the airport.

The security at the international airport was tightened after two light-weight LTTE aircraft struck the Sri Lankan military base inside the airport in March 2007.

In February this year, anti-aircraft guns shot down a LTTE plane near an air force base in Katunayake, close to the international airport.

Vehicles coming inside the airport complex continue to be checked minutely with security officials insisting on identity cards on suspicion.

The drill of focused checking, which was introduced to dodge any LTTE suicide bombers from sneaking in, continues unhampered.

“On any particular day we restrict entry of cars and taxis inside the airport and the passengers have to take the air-conditioned feeder service with helpers to offload their luggages from the vehicles,” a security official said.

Even as celebrations continue across the country to mark the end of LTTE, the army is taking its time in lowering the guard.

As late as February this year, the Sri Lankan troops had uncovered a possible rebel aircraft research wing to study ways to either repair the planes or to create new ones with the help of brochures.

The skeletal parts and several partly burnt pieces of a fuselage and a rotor blade of an air craft were found in a ram-shackled centre in the region.

“We are used to this kind of a drill at the Colombo international airport. We have no problems. Safety is important,” said a foreign national.

The security forces also continue with the random checking of vehicles plying on the road leading to the Bandaranaike International Airport.

The relatively relaxed atmosphere is of course visible at the airport with security personnel sharing a lighter moment and chatting with each other.

“We will be continue to be vigilant. There could still be some sleeping LTTE cells,” said another personnel.

He, however, admitted that it would just require an order from a senior LTTE leader for any rebel suicide bomber to give effect to any plan to undertake attacks.

But people widely believe none of the top LTTE leaders are alive.

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