LTTE Testing SL Anti-Aircraft Capabilities?

According to military reports, the LTTE's air wing dropped two bombs over Trincomalee harbor using their modified single engine aircrafts with relatively minimal damage. Facing heavy losses in the ground offences LTTE’s air attack could very well be a face-saver - something LTTE desperately needs to keep the supporters – especially the Diaspora which funds them – happy. But could the attack – something uncharacteristic given the little damage and the length of the sortie – be a precursor to a bigger plot?

The attack that lasted only a few minutes could have been an attempt to test the air defense capability of the Sri Lanka Military. The LTTE air wing may have wanted to test the response of the military in order to carry out a comprehensive attack on a significant military or civilian target. If Karuna - the leader of the break away Tamil faction – is right, such an attack could even be a chemical attack that could have unimaginable repercussion for both the Sri Lankan military and its people.

It will be reasonable to assume the LTTE will carry out a such a test before a larger scale attack as the Sri Lankan military is known to have acquired air defense equipment from India and other countries following the previous attacks that included a bombing campaign over Colombo last year. Whilst another attack on Colombo is thus difficult conceive, it is yet possible given the desperation of the leadership, that the LTTE will carry out an attack of unimaginable proportion should the Army continue its march to Killinochchi and knock on Prbhakaran’s door. And unlike the Hitler who shot himself in the face of defeat – chances are this self-proclaimed leader of the Tamil Nation is going to inflict as many deaths as he could before he calls it a day.