Tamil Tigers air attacks in Sri Lankan capital

The attack in Colombo led to the sound of anti-aircraft fire reverberating across the city, parts of which have been blacked out as a precaution.

The army says that a "terrorist aircraft" dropped two bombs near the military base in the town of Mannar.

The Tigers have not claimed responsibility for either attack.

The group has boasted air strike capability since the first mission of what they call their Tamil Eelam Air Force, or TAF, in March 2007.

The air defence system in Colombo and suburbs was activated last night and the electricity supply to the city was suspended as a precautionary measure after a suspected Tiger aircraft dropped two bombs targeting the Kelanitissa power station.

According to Army spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara the blast caused a minor fire at the power station. Firefighters have managed to douse the fire. The electricity generation capacity will not be affected, CEB sources said.

No injuries were reported at Kelanitissa. Prior to this incident, an LTTE light aircraft dropped three bombs on the Mannar Army headquarters in Thaladdi.

Brigadier Nanayakkara said no damage was caused to the camp or any other military logistics facility in the area due to this attack.