Tamil rebel aircraft dropped two bombs on a key harbour in north-eastern Sri Lanka, a military official said, adding that no major damage had been caused, dpa reported.
Sri Lankan military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the bombs had been dropped at the Trincomalee harbour, 240 kilometres north-east of the capital on Tuesday night.
The security forces had activated the air defence system soon after the incident, but the aircraft had escaped.
Tamil rebels are in possession of at least two small aircraft which had used previously as well to carry out similar attacks in the capital and the main airport.
Military officials in the area said a vessel used by the Navy had appeared to be the target, but the bombs missed.
The incident comes as government troops stepped up military operations against the rebels in the northern part of the country after declaring they were with 15 kilometres of the rebels' administrative hub.