COLOMBO (Reuters) - A Tamil Tiger light aircraft bombed a Sri Lankan air force base next to Colombo international airport before dawn on Monday, killing three airmen and wounding 16 in the first such air strike by the rebel group.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said more such attacks by its air wing would follow, threatening to deepen renewed conflict in the island state off the toe of India.

Airline and government officials said the civilian airport, 23 miles north of the capital, was not damaged but was closed for several hours following the attack.

The military said the bombs hit a barracks, and that none of its aircraft was damaged. Sri Lanka's stock market fell in early trade following the attack.

"A light Tiger aircraft flew over the air force base and dropped explosives. There have been two explosions. At the same time our air defenses activated and there is a search operation going on," said an air force spokesman, Group Captain Ajantha de Silva.
Taken from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...032601734.html

Pictures can be found at this Tamil website http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=21668

The Air Force fighter jocks must be thrilled by the prospect of A2A combat in small wars!