S Lanka closes airport, cuts power after planes seen

COLOMBO, Apr 26 (Reuters) Sri Lankan authorities closed the Colombo international airport and cut power to the city tonight after suspicious airplanes were seen flying south along the coast, a military source said.

''Some civilians in Puttlam district had seen three aircraft flying from north to south hugging the sea. With suspicion, contingency plans have been activated because of the imminent risk of threat, closing off the entrance of the airport and switching power off,'' he said on condition of anonymity.

Early on Tuesday, Tamil Tiger rebel airplanes dropped bombs on military positions in the north of the country in their second aerial attack ever. The first was an attack on an air base attached to Colombo airport less than a month ago.

Reuters RJ GC2325