Two Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) jet bombers Tuesday destroyed the main broadcast tower and transmitter of the Thamileelam Radio station of the Liberation Tigers, but failed to disrupt broadcasts.
The station, on the A9 15 km south of Kilinochchi, broadcasts the Voice of Tigers (VoT), the LTTE’s official radio, the Thamileelam Vanoli, a commercial Tamil service and a Sinhala language service, both also run by the LTTE.
The services continued to be transmitted, although the Sri Lankan bombers hit the main 500 feet high broadcast tower and the associated building 25 times Tuesday morning at 9:30 a.m.
An electricity generator, and two vehicles of the station were also destroyed in the attack, which wounded two employees.
Altogether US$3 million worth of equipment was destroyed, according to officials at Thamileelam Radio.
The Political Head of the LTTE, Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan, who visited the wrecked station, accused the Sri Lankan government of attempting to silence expressions of Tamil opinion and condemned the attack which came despite both sides saying they are committed to negotiations in Geneva later this month.
