Two planes from Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have attacked the capital, Colombo, officials say, injuring at least 40 people.
Two planes from Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have attacked the capital, Colombo, officials say, injuring at least 40 people.
A government office in the city's centre was hit and one plane was shot down by the international airport, which has been closed, officials said.
A government office in the city's centre was hit and one plane was shot down by the international airport, which has been closed, officials said.
The raid comes as the army has driven the Tigers into a shrinking zone of jungle in the north of Sri Lanka.
The raid comes as the army has driven the Tigers into a shrinking zone of jungle in the north of Sri Lanka.
The military said it had destroyed all the Tigers' runways.
The military said it had destroyed all the Tigers' runways.
A witness told the BBC's Sinhala service that he saw a plane and then there was a huge explosion near Colombo's fort, in the city centre, close to many government offices.
A pro-rebel website, TamilNet, said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), had carried out the attack.
"We heard the anti-aircraft fire after the electricity supply of the city was cut off," the witness said.
'Massive explosion'
"Then we saw a very low flying aircraft. Immediately after the aircraft was sighted, we heard a huge explosion."
The city was put on full alert at about 2130 (1600 GMT) as electricity was cut and searchlights and tracer fire from anti-aircraft guns cut through the night sky.
Briton Barry Walker told the BBC that he was in a central Colombo hotel when the blackout hit.
"We were sitting by the swimming pool when we heard firing of heavy anti-aircraft guns. Heavy shell fire. This lasted 20-25 minutes... then there was a massive explosion," he said.
Another witnesses told the BBC he saw a low-flying aircraft and then heard a huge explosion by the city's fort, where many government offices are located.
The air force headquarters, which is in the same area, may have been the target, correspondents say.
The air force headquarters, which is in the same area, may have been the target, correspondents say.
Air force jets scrambled
Air force jets scrambled
The ministry of defence said an office of the inland revenue department was hit.
The ministry of defence said an office of the inland revenue department was in flames after being hit.
Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said one of the planes was shot down next to the international airport, just outside Colombo, and the body of its pilot had been found.
Defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said one of the planes was shot down next to the international airport, just outside Colombo, and the body of its pilot had been found.
Witnesses at the airport told Associated Press news agency that anti-aircraft guns had been firing there and that there had been an explosion.
Witnesses at the airport told Associated Press news agency that anti-aircraft guns had been firing there and that there had been an explosion.
Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said the alert began when a suspected Tamil Tiger aircraft was spotted north-east of Colombo and the capital's air defences were activated.
Military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara said the alert began when a suspected Tamil Tiger aircraft was spotted north-east of Colombo and the capital's air defences were activated.
Air force jets were scrambled to engage the planes.
Air force jets were scrambled to engage the planes.
The attack comes as a major Sri Lankan army offensive has inflicted a series of defeats on the Tamil Tiger forces, pushing the rebels into a narrow area of jungle in the north of Sri Lanka.
The attack comes as a major Sri Lankan army offensive has inflicted a series of defeats on the Tamil Tiger forces, pushing the rebels into a narrow area of jungle in the north of Sri Lanka.
Correspondents say the attack amounts to a major embarrassment for Sri Lanka's government, which had claimed to have destroyed all the rebels' hidden runways and put its small air force out of action.
Correspondents say the attack amounts to a major embarrassment for Sri Lanka's government, which had claimed to have destroyed all the rebels' hidden runways and put its small air force out of action.
The Tigers have used light planes in the past to attack Colombo.
The Tigers have used light planes in the past to attack Colombo.
In October 2008, suspected Tamil Tiger rebels carried out air strikes on oil tanks near the capital, Colombo, and in north-western Sri Lanka.
In October 2008, suspected Tamil Tiger rebels carried out air strikes on oil tanks near the capital, Colombo, and in north-western Sri Lanka.
Colombo was also targeted in another raid in March 2007.
Colombo was also targeted in another raid in March 2007.
About 70,000 people have died in the last 25 years as the Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of the country.
About 70,000 people have died in the last 25 years as the Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland in the north and east of the country.
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