PTI
 
Colombo, Mar 26: Tamil Tiger rebels on Monday morning bombed Sri Lanka’s main military airbase located next to the international airport, leaving at least two persons dead and 17 wounded.

The rebels used two light aircraft to attack the Katunayake military airbase, about 35 kilometres north of Colombo.

The LTTE deployed aircraft for the first time in a combat mission to attack the military base, rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan said.

"This mission was undertaken to reduce the air capability of the Sri Lankan air force," he said.

Sri Lanka's military admitted that the Tigers had used their aircraft for the first time and bombed the airbase where two persons were killed and another 17 wounded.

Ilathiriyan said the LTTE would carry out similar attacks to reduce the strike capability of the air force.

A hangar and two parked helicopters were also damaged in the attack.

The government said he Bandaranaike International Airport, which shares a boundary with the airbase, was not affected by the attack.

Sri Lanka's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ravinatha Aryasinha said the airport had been closed temporarily as a precaution. "There is no damage to the international airport or the runway," he added. The authorities had diverted all incoming flights to Chennai, but the airport reopened after a couple of hours.

At least four explosions were heard from the Katunayake airbase, local residents said.

Passengers aboard flights ready to take off from the international airport were asked to disembark as the airport was shut.

Roads leading to the airport were closed and people trying to catch flights out of the country were turned back by police.

The Tigers staged a devastating attack against the same air base in July 2001 when they destroyed over a dozen parked military aircraft and then crossed over to the international airport and destroyed six aircraft.