“It is not only pre-emptive, it is a measure to protect Tamil civilians from the genocidal aerial bombardments by Sri Lankan armed forces,” he said. “More attacks of the same nature will follow.” The rebels did not say what kind of aircraft was used, but a Western diplomat said the plane is believed to be a Czech-made Ziln Z-143, a single-propeller trainer that had been modified to carry bombs.

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse held an emergency meeting with leaders of political parties to discuss the attack. The government condemned what it called a “cowardly” attack, which followed weeks of Air Force raids on rebel targets in the north and east, and said security forces were on high alert.

“It’s a threat to the entire region, not only to Sri Lanka... India especially must be vigilant of this,” Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle told reporters. Heavily armed troops manning checkpoints between Colombo and the airport carried out stringent checks on vehicles.

The Tigers, who say they are fighting for an independent state for minority Tamils in the north and east, last attacked the airport in 2001, the year before a ceasefire deal which has since collapsed. In that attack, half of Sri Lankan Airlines’ fleet of planes was destroyed.

The rebels have since smuggled an estimated four light aircraft into the country in pieces and re-assembled them. They have long maintained an airstrip outside Kilinochchi. The Tigers also have a naval wing, the Sea Tigers.

A pro-rebel website www.tamilnet.com carried pictures of rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran standing with Tiger pilots. It also showed a single-propeller two-seater plane painted in army camouflage colours with four bombs attached to its underside.

... contd.