Written by:
Eelaththu Nilavan
(Preserving Tamil Eelam’s history for future generations…)
On July 24, 2001, the heart of the Sri Lankan military and its economy was shattered. In a bold, meticulously planned offensive, 14 elite Black Tiger commandos of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) infiltrated and launched a devastating attack on the Katunayake Air Force Base and the adjacent Bandaranaike International Airport, shaking the Sri Lankan state to its core. This assault became one of the most significant and symbolic military operations in the island’s post-colonial history.
✦. Background to the Attack
The strategic vision behind this operation was devised by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief Pottu Amman. The operational planning and ground execution were led by Colonel Charles, the LTTE’s military strategist.
The goal was clear: inflict massive damage on Sri Lanka’s military and economic infrastructure in the heart of Colombo, and send an unmistakable message about the reach and discipline of the Tamil liberation movement.
✦. Timeline of the Attack
Monday, July 23, 2001 – 8:30 PM: 14 Black Tiger commandos convened at the Raja Fernando Sports Grounds for final briefings.
9:45 PM to 11:15 PM: Power supply to the Katunayake area was deliberately cut off.
Tuesday, July 24 – 3:30 AM: The assault commenced.
8:30 AM: After nearly five hours of combat, the operation was completed.
Despite prior intelligence and public suspicion of LTTE operatives near the airport the day before, no swift action was taken by authorities. When officials eventually arrived, the suspects had vanished.
✦. Confirmed and Claimed Damages
According to the LTTE’s official publication Eezhanatham, the following assets were completely destroyed:
Completely Destroyed Aircraft:
2 × Airbus A340-300 (civilian airliners)
1 × Airbus A330-200
4 × Kfir fighter jets
3 × K-8 trainer aircraft
2 × MiG-27 fighter jets
2 × Bell 412 helicopters
2 × VVIP-configured Bell 412 helicopters
2 × Mi-17 helicopters
Damaged Aircraft:
2 × Airbus A320 (civilian airliners)
1 × Airbus A340
1 × Antonov military transport aircraft
1 × Mi-24 attack helicopter
1 × Bell 412 helicopter
4 × Kfir fighter jets
According to the Sri Lankan government, 14 aircraft were destroyed. The LTTE, however, claimed 28 aircraft were either destroyed or rendered unusable.
✦. Economic Consequences
The total damages inflicted by the LTTE attack were estimated at over USD 375 million, marking a catastrophic economic blow to the Sri Lankan government. The attack paralyzed civil aviation, effectively shutting down international air traffic and delivering a death blow to Sri Lanka’s already fragile tourism sector.
The attack demonstrated the LTTE’s ability to infiltrate and target the most secure locations within the capital’s perimeter, without harming civilians.
✦. The Black Tigers: Martyrs of Precision and Discipline
The 14 Black Tiger commandos sacrificed their lives in this operation, executing it with unmatched precision and restraint. This was not merely a military assault—it was a political message, a blow in response to decades of state oppression, and a reminder of the LTTE’s disciplined approach to warfare.
✦. A Message Rooted in “Black July”
This operation was also symbolically timed. July, in the collective Tamil memory, is the month of “Black July” (1983)—when thousands of Tamil civilians were massacred, their homes burned, and their livelihoods destroyed by Sinhalese mobs with state complicity.
That month marked the beginning of the full-scale armed struggle. The LTTE’s leadership resolved that the pain inflicted upon Tamils during Black July must never go unanswered. The Katunayake attack was the embodiment of that response—a counter-blow on the very heart of the Sri Lankan state.
✦. Why Civilians Were Not Targeted
One of the most remarkable aspects of the Katunayake attack—and many LTTE operations—was the absence of civilian targeting. Even though the attackers had the capability to inflict civilian casualties, they did not. This discipline stemmed from Prabhakaran’s leadership, who repeatedly emphasized:
> “Our enemy is the Sri Lankan state and its military—not ordinary Sinhalese civilians.”
Over three decades of armed resistance, there is no credible accusation of LTTE forces abducting, raping, or sexually abusing Sinhalese civilians. Such discipline in asymmetric warfare is unprecedented in modern history.
✦. A Day of Glory in Tamil Eelam’s Liberation Struggle
July 24, 2001, will forever remain a golden day in the history of Tamil Eelam’s armed struggle—a day when:
The enemy’s military infrastructure was dismantled in under five hours.
The Sri Lankan government suffered irreversible military and economic losses.
The LTTE demonstrated its tactical prowess, discipline, and capacity to strike at the heart of Colombo.
This was more than a battlefield victory—it was a historic act of defiance, a message that Tamil Eelam’s warriors were not to be underestimated.
✦. Conclusion: Honor to the Fallen, Tribute to the Just
To the Black Tigers who attained martyrdom in this operation, and to our brothers and sisters massacred during Black July, this tribute is yours. Your sacrifices have been etched into the collective memory of the Tamil nation.
And to the world: The struggle of the Tamil people was not one of chaos, but one rooted in justice, discipline, and the dream of freedom.
✧✧✧
Authored by: Eelaththu Nilavan
(Preserving Tamil Eelam’s history for future generations…)
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Amizhthu’s editorial stance.
