THE Navy and the defence establishment dropped the ball yet again, when there was yet another opportunity to take down a couple of crop-dusters dropping bombs, two days ago on the Trincomalee naval base. The Navy is said to be in possesion of sophisticated anti-aircraft missile systems installed in this base, yet for some mysterious reason these were never used. That negligence and unpreparedness cost 10 young lives and is now causing a furore among all and sundry.
The Tigers really showed what they are capable of; daring to do what the SL Defence Forces think they will not be able to do. They've proven this capability repeatedly and the SLDF seems to forget the lesson quite quickly.
The physical damage caused by the intrusion and attack is miniscule and will have no impact on the way the SL forces fight. On the propaganda front, it achieves massively for the Tigers' cause, by showing a deeply demoralized support base that the fight isn't over and the Tiger isn't de-clawed yet. It also has started the majority Sinhalese baying for the blood of the negligent base commanders. The people have a right to be angry; they are bearing the unbearable economic burden of this war.
When all aspects are considered, the one fact that emerges unchallenged is the fact that Sri Lanka continues to under-estimate its enemies with near fatal results each time. And we repeatedly fail to remember the lessons learnt the hard way, at the cost of dozens of young lives.
Somebody should be held accountable for the failure to shoot down the Tiger aircraft that flew right over their heads.
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