There was an intrusion: SLAF

9 August 2011 11:32 am Views - 13375

The Airforce maintained yesterday that an intrusion into Sri Lankan Airspace had occurred in the face if another denial by the United States Embassy in Colombo. “We maintain that we saw an aircraft operating within our controlled Airspace,” Air Force Spokesperson Group Captain Andrew Wijesuriya told the Daily Mirror today.

 “At no time did the USS RONALD REAGAN or its aircraft approach Sri Lanka's territorial sea or airspace,” the Statement by the Embassy said.

The statement also alleged that the AirForce monitored an area outside its territorial airspace. “Recent press reports indicate that the Sri Lankan Air Force, which monitors a large Flight Identification Region, that extends beyond Sri Lanka's territorial airspace, monitored the transit and the routine operations of the carrier's aircraft.”

Responding to this allegation Group Captain Wijesuriya agreed that the AirForce monitored airspace not belonging to Sri Lanka. “Yes we monitor airspace beyond our territory, we monitor as far as our radars will go,” he said.

He refused to comment on or admit that there were previous occasions during which US Aircrafts have entered Sri Lankan Airspace.

“The aircraft carrier USS RONALD REAGAN with accompanying ships recently transited the Indian Ocean returning to the Pacific.  It conducted routine flight operations during the transit through waters beyond the territorial sea of any State. Responding to a request for information, the Chargé of the US Embassy on August 2 informed the Minister of External Affairs that the transit had occurred, and the Defence Attaché's Office was in full communication with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence that same evening,” according to the statement.

The Civil Aviation Authority was unable to comment but assured that the Minister of Civil Aviation Piyankara Jayarathna would make a statement, after receiving a report on the incident from the Authority. (Dianne Silva)