Aug 27, Colombo: The Tamil Tigers' tiny aircraft have dropped two improvised bombs on Trincomalee naval base in eastern Sri Lanka Tuesday night, defense officials said.

Sri Lanka Defence Ministry said the LTTE launched an abortive air raid attempt on the naval camp at about 9:15 p.m. local time.

Defense Ministry citing naval sources said the Sri Lankan Air Force have detected the approaching Tiger aircraft around 9 PM and alarmed the Navy base. Naval troops have then fired at the aircraft with anti air guns. The machine gun fire has caused the aircraft to flee without being able to enter into the naval dockyard, said the sources.

Naval sources confirming the attack on the Trincomalee Navy base said it only caused slight damages. Naval sources said one bomb out of the two dropped failed to explode. However four sailors have been injured in the attack. Pro-Tiger website Tamilnet said 11 injured sailors were admitted to the Trincomalee Hospital.

Defense analysts say the Tigers are using diversionary tactics to keep the troops from advancing into their de-facto capital in Kilinochchi.