This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6494121.stm

The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Attack on Colombo air force base Attack on Colombo air force base
(about 1 hour later)
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have bombed a military base near the international airport north of Colombo.Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers have bombed a military base near the international airport north of Colombo.
Three people were killed and 16 injured when light aircraft dropped two bombs, officials said, hitting a parking area for planes and helicopter gunships.Three people were killed and 16 injured when light aircraft dropped two bombs, officials said, hitting a parking area for planes and helicopter gunships.
The international airport - which was not damaged - closed briefly as a precaution. No civilians were hurt.The international airport - which was not damaged - closed briefly as a precaution. No civilians were hurt.
Tiger rebels attacked the airport and base in 2001, killing 18 and wiping out half of the national airline fleet.Tiger rebels attacked the airport and base in 2001, killing 18 and wiping out half of the national airline fleet.
A statement from the Tamil Tiger rebel group, carried by TamilNet, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Katunayake base, which is 30km (20 miles) north of the capital, Colombo.A statement from the Tamil Tiger rebel group, carried by TamilNet, claimed responsibility for the attack on the Katunayake base, which is 30km (20 miles) north of the capital, Colombo.
I heard a large thud and we all went to the window - there was a long silence and then several more explosions followed by machine gun fire Neil ButlerBritish eyewitnessI heard a large thud and we all went to the window - there was a long silence and then several more explosions followed by machine gun fire Neil ButlerBritish eyewitness
The group said two aircraft were used in the bombing and both planes returned to rebel-held territory safely.The group said two aircraft were used in the bombing and both planes returned to rebel-held territory safely.
"It is a measure to protect Tamil civilians from the genocidal aerial bombardments by Sri Lankan armed forces. More attacks of the same nature will follow," said the rebels' military spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan."It is a measure to protect Tamil civilians from the genocidal aerial bombardments by Sri Lankan armed forces. More attacks of the same nature will follow," said the rebels' military spokesman, Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan.
Air force officials said damage to the military facility was "minor" and that a search operation was under way.Air force officials said damage to the military facility was "minor" and that a search operation was under way.
The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says the confirmation that the rebels now have an air capability confirms government suspicions that they had been smuggling in aircraft parts to be assembled in areas of the island they control.The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says the confirmation that the rebels now have an air capability confirms government suspicions that they had been smuggling in aircraft parts to be assembled in areas of the island they control.
PanicPanic
The raid on the air force base took place at about 0045 on Monday (1915 GMT Sunday).The raid on the air force base took place at about 0045 on Monday (1915 GMT Sunday).
The 2001 attack resulted in the loss of half the civilian fleet The wounded air force personnel were treated at a military hospital
Flights in and out of the civilian airport were cancelled and roads cordoned off but no civilians were wounded and the runway was not damaged.Flights in and out of the civilian airport were cancelled and roads cordoned off but no civilians were wounded and the runway was not damaged.
Neil Butler, a British passenger at the airport, was inside the terminal building when the attack happened.Neil Butler, a British passenger at the airport, was inside the terminal building when the attack happened.
"I heard a large thud and we all went to the window. There was a long silence and then several more explosions followed by machine gun fire," he told the BBC News website."I heard a large thud and we all went to the window. There was a long silence and then several more explosions followed by machine gun fire," he told the BBC News website.
"The staff ran for the exit followed by the passengers. When I arrived downstairs in the check-in area a large crowd was running in a panic from the entrance where there had been more machine gun fire.""The staff ran for the exit followed by the passengers. When I arrived downstairs in the check-in area a large crowd was running in a panic from the entrance where there had been more machine gun fire."
He said: "I saw what looked like kind of fireworks in the sky, like a series of red flashes. But I didn't see any aircraft going over."He said: "I saw what looked like kind of fireworks in the sky, like a series of red flashes. But I didn't see any aircraft going over."
Independent homelandIndependent homeland
The air force base, which adjoins the country's only international passenger airport, houses some of the aircraft used in recent air strikes against Tiger rebel bases in the north.The air force base, which adjoins the country's only international passenger airport, houses some of the aircraft used in recent air strikes against Tiger rebel bases in the north.
Despite a ceasefire still being in place on paper, Sri Lanka has been sliding back towards civil war, with more than 4,000 people killed in the last 15 months, our correspondent says. The 2001 attack resulted in the loss of half the civilian fleetDespite a ceasefire still being in place on paper, Sri Lanka has been sliding back towards civil war, with more than 4,000 people killed in the last 15 months, our correspondent says.
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting the armed forces of the predominantly Sinhalese government for much of the past 20 years.Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebels have been fighting the armed forces of the predominantly Sinhalese government for much of the past 20 years.
They want to establish an independent homeland for the minority Tamils in the north and east of the country, to be called Tamil Eelam.They want to establish an independent homeland for the minority Tamils in the north and east of the country, to be called Tamil Eelam.
About 65,000 people have been killed and one million displaced by the fighting.About 65,000 people have been killed and one million displaced by the fighting.

Are you at the airport? Send us your account using the form below.

Are you at the airport? Send us your account using the form below.
Send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100Send your pictures and moving footage to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 07725 100 100
If you take a picture of any event you should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.If you take a picture of any event you should not endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws.
Name
Name