Colombo (ANTARA News) - A Sri Lankan air force jet was completely destroyed when it crashed in north western Sri Lanka on Monday, the air force said.

The pilot of the MiG-27 Flogger jet ejected in mid-air just before the aircraft came down in Dummalasuriya, near Puttalam as Xinhua-0ANA reported.

The air force said they were still not sure what caused the crash or if there were casualties on the ground following the crash.

Air force fighter jets were heavily used during the war between the Sri Lankan military and Tamil Tiger rebels before the rebels were defeated by the military three years ago.

Last year another Sri Lankan Air force jet crashed while it was on a training mission.

The Sri Lankan government has spent heavily on defence even after the war, including the purchase of new fighter jets, according to Sri Lanka's budget estimates for 2012. (H-AK)

Editor: Ade P Marboen
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