The Sri Lankan Air Force carried out air raids against Tamil Tiger positions in the island's north and east on Tuesday in a demonstration of its air capability after a Tamil Tiger attack on the main air base.

Group Captain Ajantha Silva, the Air Force spokesman, said "we took three identified targets of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam)."

He said the locations were in the eastern Thoppigala area, and in the northern areas of Mannar and Kanagarayankulam.

"Our capability remains as before," Silva stressed, referring to Monday's predawn attack carried out by the LTTE on the Air Force's Katunayake base adjoining the Colombo international airport.

In the first ever aerial attack by the rebels, at least one light aircraft dropped three bombs targeting the Air Force's MiG and Kfir fighter aircraft.

The Sri Lankan government said neither aircraft or the runway was damaged, but three airmen were killed and 16 others injured in the bombing.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse described the rebel air capability as a threat to the entire south Asian region.

Source: Xinhua