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The Sri Lankan Air Force on Tuesday launched an attack on suspected Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam bases in the Vanni region in the north, hours after a devastating militant attack on its Katunayake airbase near Colombo and the adjoining international airport.
Military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne said the attacks were targeted at bases in the Viswamadhu area.
Details of damage to the rebel positions, if any, were not immediately known.
In a combative move, the air force despatched fighter jets from the Katunayake airbase no sooner than it was cleared of the remnants of the rebel attack, apparently signalling that the base was still in combat readiness.
Journalists were allowed into the embattled airport on Tuesday evening. What greeted them was telltale evidence of a fierce gunfight in Bandaranaike International Airport's terminal.
Officials said four bodies were in the terminal, six on the runway and three in the environs of the airbase.
Three airbuses of the Sri Lankan Airline, the national carrier, were found completely destroyed. Two others had suffered minor damages.
PTI
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