INDIA:Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels yesterday raised the ante in their fight for independence by executing their first air raid on the country's largest military base, killing three airmen and wounding 16 others.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said more such attacks would follow the air raid on Katunayaka airbase, which adjoins the international airport 32km (20 miles) north of the capital Colombo. The attack threatens to deepen the bitter civil war in which nearly 70,000 people have died since 1983.
Military officials confirmed that two light aircraft dropped three bombs on to the air-force base, but they did not hit their intended targets - Israeli Kfir and Russian Mig 27 fighters, and helicopter gun ships.
LTTE military spokesman Rasaiah Illanthiriyan said the two aircraft took off from the rebel-controlled Wanni region in the north, and returned to base after the attack. The bombing was carried out in response to repeated air strikes against their territories in the east and north. He added that other Sri Lankan military installations would be future targets.
The LTTE released pictures on its TamilNet website of seven "Air Tiger" guerrillas dressed in light-blue camouflage uniform, posing with their elusive LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.
In an expected retaliation, Sri Lankan air-force fighters bombed rebel-held positions in the north. There were no reports of casualties late yesterday evening.
Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific Airways announced the immediate suspension of its daily service to Colombo, pending a "careful assessment" of the situation. At least seven other intercontinental flights were redirected to neighbouring India and Thailand.
Cathay said 119 passengers, who were stranded in Colombo after their flight was cancelled, would be flown home yesterday.
"It will take another 24 to 36 hours for us to get fully back together," Sri Lankan Airlines chief executive Peter Hill said, even as officials declared the airport open to air traffic later in the day. Mr Hill added that the airlines would be asking the government what it could do to prevent another air strike, as they had asked following an attack on the airport six years ago.
Tamil suicide attackers infiltrated the military airbase in July 2001 and destroyed a fleet of military aircraft before crossing over to the international airport and blowing up at least six civilian aircraft. The attack not only grounded the state-owned airline, but damaged Sri Lanka's tourist industry for an extended period.
The Sri Lankan military and police have begun separate investigations into the security lapse that led to yesterday's attack.
Fighting between the government and the LTTE has escalated over the past 15 months, with at least 4,000 deaths reported.