Suspected Tamil rebels have carried out a suicide bomb attack on a naval base located in southern Sri Lanka [Images], causing heavy damages and killing at least one sailor, military officials said Wednesday.

At least three huge explosions were reported from the Dakshina naval facility, located 117 kilometres south of the capital Colombo.

The blasts were followed by gunfire.

"We heard three loud explosions and the area is covered with a thick cloud of smoke. We also can hear sounds of firing," military officials said.

Military officials believe that the navy camp may be under attack from suspected Tamil rebels from the sea.

"We believe that three suicide attackers came by boat and exploded themselves inside the navy camp," a military officer said.

Galle is a popular tourist destination, but there was no danger to tourists as hotels are not located near the navy base.

A journalist in the area said that 45 minutes after the blasts, gunshots were still heard.

On Monday, suspected Tamil rebels carried out a suicide bombing of a convoy of buses, killing 95 sailors and eight civilian employees of the military.

In retaliation for the suicide bombing at a naval base in southern Sri Lanka on Wednesday, air force jets dropped five bombs in rebel-controlled areas, killing a woman, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam said in a press release.

Two Sri Lankan Kfirs dropped five bombs in Trincomalee, killing a woman and injuring two others, including a child, said the LTTE statement. Of the five bombs, two failed to explode.

The air raid was conducted two hours after suspected Tamil rebels carried out a suicide bomb attack on Dakshina naval facility, located near the tourist town of Galle.

At least one sailor was killed and 26 other people were injured, military officials said Wednesday.

DPA