Air strike on Colombo

This item appears on page 21 of the April 2009 issue.

Tamil Tiger rebels used two light aircraft to bomb Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo on Feb. 20. They struck the main tax office, the central bank and air force headquarters, and 42 people were injured. The Sri Lankan Defense Department said one of the aircraft was destroyed.

Meanwhile, in the northeastern part of the country, thousands of civilians were trapped between the warring forces, and the Red Cross was warning of catastrophe as tens of thousands were without adequate food, shelter or medical supplies.