LTTE Attacks Sri Lanka Air Base

Ajantha De Silva, the Air Force spokesman, said a group of Tamil Tiger rebels attacked the air base, about 200 km north of the capital Colombo, around 3.20 a.m.

Two LTTE aircraft also dropped bombs at the air base, he said.

Two pilots and two gunners were killed when they tried to crash-land an Air Force BELL 212 helicopter at Doramadalawa in Mihintale area on their way to reinforce other fighting aircraft.

At least eight security forces personnel were injured in the fighting and have been admitted to the Anuradhapura hospital, De Silva said.

Two MI24 helicopters were damaged during the attack and the battle is still going on, said the spokesman.