Tamil Tigers (LTTE) this afternoon (14) around 3.10 p.m. fired small arms on an MI-17 helicopter of the Sri Lanka Air Force while it was on its way to ARUGAMBAY, AMPARA to pick the Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy, Ms Margarita Boniver and her entourage who are on an official visit to the area. The twenty-member delegation was dropped at ARUGAMBAY this morning around 10.30 a.m.

The helicopter was flying at a low altitude, about ten aeronautical miles off ARUGAMBAY within cleared areas when it came under a burst of small arms fire of the Tamil Tigers (LTTE). However, the Russian-built helicopter with only four shots, received to its body and rotor blades, managed to return and land safely at AMPARA Air Force Base.

Special Task Force (STF) ground troops deployed in AMPARA area have also monitored an LTTE radio transmission between two of their stations in which they (Tamil Tigers) had queried as to why the helicopter was not shot down as planned.

Italy is a strong and active member of the European Union (EU) who in the recent past vehemently condemned Tamil Tiger (LTTE) atrocities and enforced restrictions and limitations to LTTE activities in the EU member states. This was in the immediate aftermath of the brutal assassination of Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Mr Lakshman Kadirgamar by the LTTE on 13th August 2005.

The Sri Lanka Air Force confirmed that none of the crewmen sustained injuries. The Air Force was to lodge a strong complaint with the SLMM in this connection. Extent of the damages to the aircraft is yet to be assessed.