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Prabakaran was injured in air raid: military

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka military on Wednesday night claimed that the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabakaran, was “injured” in an air raid carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on November 26.

In a statement released here the Defence Ministry citing “reliable intelligence” maintained that the Air Force carried out a successful air strike targeting the leader of the LTTE on November 26.

“Intelligence sources confirmed that Velupillai Prabakaran had sustained injuries in the air strikes carried out by four attack aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force on a bunker complex in Jayanthinagar, Kilinochchi around 5.25 p.m. on 26th November 2007. Intelligence had confirmed that the bunker complex was frequented by the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabakaran,” the statement said.

The claim made by the military came four days after a newspaper report here said that Mr. Prabakaran was injured in an air raid carried out by the SLAF on November 28, a day after the so-called “Hero’s Day Speech” by the LTTE leader.

Two days ago President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Defence Secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa when approached by The Hindu for comments said, “It is true the SLAF took two high profile targets in Kilinochchi on November 28. As per intelligence reports the LTTE had cut off one of the two targeted locations for two weeks though we are not certain if Mr. Prabakaran was present at the two locations”.

The military in its statement claimed that the attack aircraft of the Air Force carried out ‘another air strike’ on the same target on November 28. “The Air Force confirms that the target was successfully destroyed amidst heavy LTTE ground to air fire towards the Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft. Subsequent to the attack, the Air Force monitored movements around the target trying to clear the debris.”

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