Air-Tigers attack Katunayake military airbase

Two attack air-crafts belonging to Liberation Tigers carried out bombing raids at the Sri Lanka Air Force airbase at Katunayake at 12:45 a.m. early morning Monday and returned safely to Vanni, military spokesperson of the LTTE, Rasaiah Ilanthiraiyan told TamilNet. The targets for the air attack were the SLAF's Kfir and MiG-27 hangers at the military base located adjoining the Katunayake International Airport (KIA), Ilanthiraiyan said.

Two SLAF personnel were killed and 17 wounded in the attacks according to SLAF spokesperson in Colombo. The injured have been rushed to Negombo hospital from the military airbase, medical sources said.

Katunayake International Airport (KIA) did not suffer any damages, according to military sources.

Sandana de Silva, Communication's Director for Sri Lankan, Sri Lanka's flagship passenger air-liner, said that the International Airport is shut and all Sri Lankan flights have been diverted to an air-port in a South Indian state.

Immediate areas surrounding the air-port and the adjoining SLAF airbase have been cordoned off, according to local residents.

Ilanthiraiyan further said following the first major aerial attack by the Tigers, other Sri Lanka military installations will also be targets of future attacks.

Unconfirmed reports from Colombo said Air-port taxi drivers have seen at least two men on parachutes above the airbase.

The attack occurs amid speculations of an imminent offensive of Sri Lankan military into the northern theatre.

In a similar predawn attack on the Katunayake air base, about 35 km. north of Colombo on 24 July 2001, Tigers destroyed thirteen air crafts including two Kfir jet fighters, one MI-24 Helicopter gun ship and one MIG-27- jet fighter.

No civilians were injured or killed in the 2001 attack.

Military offensives by Sri Lanka Security Forces in the NorthEast in Eelam War-IV have been dominated by air-attacks by SLAF. Attack air-crafts carrying unguided ammunition have been inflicting heavy civilian casualties and damages to civilian property.