A senior Sri Lankan government minister on Thursday called for security measures to be put in place in the island's parliament in order to protect it from a possible air strike by Tamil Tiger rebels.

Anura Bandaranaike, the minister of National Heritage in a letter to Speaker of parliament W. J. M. Lokubanadara has drawn the attention of the latter to protect the assembly.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in a predawn attack Monday bombed the main air base adjoining the Colombo international airport killing three airmen and injuring 16 others.

This was the first air strike by the rebels in the history of over three-decade-old ethnic separatist conflict.

Bandaranaike, who himself a former speaker of parliament urges Lokubandara to consult the military chiefs and put in place an air defense system in the parliamentary premises.

Bandaranaike in his letter says the rebels by attacking the air base with two light aircraft had demonstrated its air capability and the country's legislature could be targeted by the rebels.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse said that the LTTE's air capability was a threat to the whole South Asian region.

He stressed the need for the international community to help Sri Lanka overcome the Tiger air striking capability.

The Tigers said that they would target more military targets and the air strike was a reprisal to air raids carried out by the Sri Lanka Air Force in the rebel held areas in the north and east.

Source: Xinhua