The aircraft of Sri Lanka's rebel Tamil Tigers bombed two targets close to the capital Colombo early Sunday despite the government activated its air defense system, giving the government further challenge in dealing with the rebels.

Group Captain Ajantha Silva, the Air Force spokesman, said the aircraft of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) dropped four bombs at around 1:50 a.m. (2020 GMT) in the suburbs of Colombo.

"Two explosive devices fell in the Kolonnawa area (about 15 km east of Colombo), and two in the Muthurajawela area (about 15 km north of Colombo). There was no damage reported in Kolonnawa as the explosive devices failed to explode," said a statement of the government.

Of the two explosive devices dropped in Muthurajawela area, one fell in a pump house area without causing any damage, the other fell around an oil company resulting in a minor fire which was later put out, the statement said.

The pro-LTTE website quoted LTTE Military Spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan as saying that the Air Force's oil and fuel storages in Kolonnawa and Muthurajawela were bombed at 1:50 a.m. (2020 GMT) and 2:05 a.m. (2035 GMT) respectively.

Ilanthirayan said that LTTE bombers safely returned to their air base in the rebel controlled Vanni district after the bombing.

The air strike took place despite the air defense system was activated in the early hours of Sunday when the military got information that suspected Tamil Tiger rebel aircraft were approaching Colombo.

Power supply to Colombo and suburbs was cut off around 1:30 a.m. (2000 GMT) as the majority of people were watching the live television coverage of the World Cup Cricket final between Australia and Sri Lanka in Barbados.

Loud explosion sounds due to anti aircraft gun fire could be heard in many parts of the city and suburbs, causing panic among the public.

This is the third air strike carried out by LTTE rebels on government targets.

During its first ever air attack on March 26, three Air Force personnel were killed and 16 others injured when three bombs were dropped from a light aircraft over the island country's major Air Force base in Katunayake, about 30 km north of Colombo.

Air Force officials said no harm were caused to the fighter squadron of the Air Force in that attack.

However, operations at the Bandaranaike International Airport, which is located next to the Air Force base, came to halt for a few hours in the midst of uncertainty of what was happening at the Air Force Base.

On April 24, the LTTE attempted to air raid the northern Jaffna peninsula's Palaly military base, which is the headquarters for military operations against the rebels in the north and also a major supply base.

Defense officials said the air strike in Jaffna inflicted little damage because the LTTE aircraft turned back under fire, adding that six soldiers were killed when bombs dropped on military bunkers in the nearby Myladdy area.

The government said that the LTTE as the only terror organization equipped with air capabilities in the world has posed threats not only to Sri Lanka but also to the entire region.

"This is a threatening situation, not only to Sri Lanka but also to the entire region. India should be on alert about the situation since there are possibilities the LTTE may help other terror organizations too," said Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle after the first air attack.

LTTE Political Head S.P. Thamilchelvan said earlier that the air strikes were aimed at forcing the Sri Lankan government to end its sustained bombardment of the LTTE controlled area.

Thamilchelvan also said the government's agenda of distancing the Tigers from the international community by projecting the LTTE as a threat to the region will not work.

"Our struggle is aimed at achieving our own freedom, and we are no threat to anyone else," he added.

The government has vowed to destroy the Tiger air capability but so far failed to achieve its target.

The Air Force spokesman Ajantha Silva told reporters after the LTTE's failed attempt to raid the Palaly military base that "our priority now is to destroy LTTE aircraft."

However, although the military has managed to prevent the LTTE from striking its major military facilities, they are far from neutralizing the rebel group's air capabilities, reportedly headed by LTTE leader V. Prabakaran's son Charles Anthony.

The air capabilities of the LTTE will also affect the government's ongoing military operation, which has resulted in the recapture of several key districts from the LTTE control in the east.

More than 4,000 soldiers, LTTE rebels and civilians have been killed since December 2005 with the escalation of violence.

The LTTE has been fighting for an independent Tamil homeland in the north and east since 1970s.

"The LTTE can not win the war, but they can afford it; the government can win the war, but they can not afford it," said an analyst declining to give his name.

Source: Xinhua