Colombo - Sri Lanka's air force said Wednesday it bombed a hideout frequented by elusive Tamil rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in northern Sri Lanka.

The hideout, located at Vattakachchi, 310 kilometres north-east of the capital, was bombed Wednesday morning, air force spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Residents in the area confirmed the rebels considered the area a high security zone out of bounds for civilians.

The air force spokesman said heavy traffic in enemy communication was experienced immediately after the attack, but subsequently communication had died down and silence was maintained.

Colombo  - Security in Sri Lanka's capital was tightened after a bomb exploded inside a bus Tuesday minutes after it was detected and passengers got off, police said.

Despite the evacuation of the bus, four people were injured, police said. The explosion occurred in the centre of Colombo and caused extensive damage to the bus.

Police said the conductor of the state-run bus found the unattended parcel and evicted some 60 passengers before the bomb exploded.

Police spokesman Senior Superintendent of Police Ranjith Gunasekara blamed the Tamil rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for the attack.

Colombo - A bomb went off inside a bus in Sri Lanka's capital Colombo Tuesday minutes after it was detected and passengers got off, police said.

Despite the evacuation of the passengers, four people were injured, police said. The explosion, which occurred in the centre of the city, caused extensive damage to the bus.

Police said the conductor of the state-run bus had found the unattended parcel and evicted some 60 passengers before the bomb exploded.

Colombo : Aid agencies suspend the withdrawal of staff from conflict zones in northern Sri Lanka, following strong protests from civilians in the region, a local newspaper said Sunday.

United Nations agencies and other organizations started pulling out on Tuesday to comply with orders from the government as fighting intensified in the rebel-controlled northern part of the country.

The government cited safety concerns in directing them to recall their staffs.

Colombo - A Tamil rebel aircraft returning after dropping bombs on an Air Force complex was shot down by a fighter jet Tuesday morning in north-eastern Sri Lanka, a military spokesman said.

The rebel aircraft had dropped bombs at the Air Force base in Vavuniya, 240 kilometres north of the capital, and was shot down off Mullaitivu, 60 kilometres from the targeted base.

There were no immediate details about any damage caused by the rebel bombing at the Air Force base.