Attack Closes Colombo Int'l Airport For Several Hours Monday

Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have escalated their rebellion against the government with a successful air strike at a government military base north of the capital of Columbo. The attack happened just after midnight local time Monday morning.

The rebels say two planes were used, the government says only one, but both sides agree the rebels apparently succeeded in flying undetected for about 125 miles to attack the base, then returned safely to rebel-held territory.

"It is a measure to protect Tamil civilians from the genocidal aerial bombardments by Sri Lankan armed forces," rebel military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan said of the attack. "More attacks of the same nature will follow."

Tiger rebels last attacked the airport and base in 2001, killing 18 and wiping out half of the national airline fleet. The BBC reports Monday's attack killed three military personnel and injured 16 others. The base shares a runway with a civilian airport, Colombo Bandaranaika International.

No civilians were reported injured in the attack, or in the panic following gunfire near the airport's main entrance. The airport reopened after a brief closure, but Cathay Pacific has suspended its flights there indefinitely.

The Tigers said goverment planes retaliated later in the day Monday -- carrying out four raids, and hitting civilian areas on the north side of the island, but causing no casualties.

The Tamil Tigers are fighting to establish an independent homeland on the north and east of what is now Sri Lanka. The rebels have been fighting with the government for about 20 years, displacing a million residents and killing about 65,000.

FMI: www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ce.html