Rebel attack military base next to international airport

Tamil Tigers carried out an aerial attack, bombing a military base by the international airport north of the capital, Colombo. Three air force personnel were killed and 16 people injured when the bombs hit a parking area for planes and helicopter gunships. The international airport - which was not damaged - was closed briefly. Tiger rebels attacked the airport and base in 2001, killing 18 and wiping out half of the national airline fleet. The Katunayake airbase and the civilian airport share the same runway.