The Tigers accused the military of 'insensitivity' in carrying out the attack on the day of Balasingham's funeral.
Over five Sri Lankan Air Force personnel were killed and two MI-24 helicopters damaged in a pre-dawn attack by Tamil Tiger rebels on an air base at the North-Central Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka, the military said. ''First a group of LTTE cadres infiltrated the Anuradhapura SLAF Base and launched the initial attack around 3.20 am. Later, at least two LTTE light aircrafts carried out an air attack on the base, destroying two MI-24 helicopters,'' military spokesman said.
Raja Ayyappan, a member of the 'Tamizhar Pasarai' outfit, was arrested by Q-Branch police on Monday at Thanjavur, about 165 km from Madurai, following a tip off, they said.
He asked the India government and the people of India to be magnanimous to put the past behind and to approach the ethnic question in a different perspective.
The renewed attacks came as peace broker Norway failed on Friday to secure an agreement to end a blockade on the Jaffna peninsula where nearly half a million people are trapped by fighting.
The offer comes amidst fears that the island was slowly and steadily drifting towards full-scale hostilities.
The bus toppled and was dragged about 25 metre before it came to a halt after being hit by the powerful blast.
Over 24 Tigers rebels are believed to have been killed on Sunday when the Sri Lankan Navy attacked and destroyed a ship carrying arms for the LTTE. "There were 24 to 25 people aboard the ship and we believe all of them have been killed," Defence Spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said. The Lankan naval task group comprising Off Shore Patrol vessels SLNS Sayura, SLNS Sagara, Fast Attack Vessel SLNS Suranimila and Rendezvous vessel 521 were engaged in the elite operation.
LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran, in an annual speech on Monday, said the 2002 ceasefire agreement "defunct" and vowed to resume fighting.
Vaiko also strongly objected Narayanan's meeting with Douglas Devananada in New Delhi. Devananda is a Sri Lankan Tamil politician who is part of the ruling alliance and a supporter of Rajapakse.
The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the army exchanged fire across the Muhamalai-Nagarkovil frontline in the peninsula, the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said.
Solheim said the visits were an important part of preparations for a meeting in Tokyo next week of Sri Lanka's key international financial backers who are to review their support of a faltering peace process.
The attack came as the military shot dead 10 Tiger rebels who tried to break into an army defence line in the same area, the officials said.
Police and troops stepped up security on Sunday ahead of next week's traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
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The bomb, planted on a tree-top, exploded as the crowded bus passed by in the Vavuniya district, 250 km north of Colombo, a police official in the area said over telephone.
The Human Rights Watch, in a statement, expressed its deep concern for human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law committed by both sides since the renewal of major hostilities this year.
The attack came a day after Tamil Tigers carried out their first ever air raid, bombing a military airbase near the international airport here killing three airmen and injuring 16.
The LTTE said on Tuesday that they were entering talks although they had little confidence that the government will deliver on promises made to restore normality.
Ahead of talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, India Friday pitched for consensus among the island nation's main political parties to salvage the fragile truce.
There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE in this regard.
The navy engaged a flotilla of Tamil Tiger boats off the island's northeast and sank one boat, killing 15 rebels.
There was no word from the Tigers about the latest clashes or about the possible casualties on their side.\n\n
There was no immediate confirmation of the incident from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Nine Lankan soldiers were also killed.
The 42-year-old is suspected to have facilitated members of LTTE in procuring at least six tonnes of ball bearings from Null Bazaar in South Central Mumbai.
UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, attended the 61st birth anniversary of husband Rajiv Gandhi with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.
Sri Lankan Estate Housing Infrastructure Minister Muthu Sivalingam has said that assassination of the country's foreign minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, would not derail the peace process.
The LTTE opened the sluice gates freeing water to some 15,000 farmer families downstream following a request from peace broker Norway.
The fighting since last Wednesday at Muttur, which the military said was a diversion from the main battles near the Maavilaru min-dam, or anicut, has left some 30,000 refugees.
The victims were on their way to reinforce government troops battling Tamil Tiger rebels in the same area.
Air Force spokesman, Group Captain Ajantha Silva confirmed that the air force had bombed some targets in the LTTE-held areas in the Eastern province, but refused to divulge what they were.
The claim came a day after the Tiger rebels blew up an army bus in Colombo, killing one soldier, and overran a naval base where they claimed 35 sailors died.
The Delhi High Court imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on the Janata Party president.
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