COLOMBO, March 26 (Reuters) - Tamil Tiger rebels bombed an air force base next to Sri Lanka's international airport north of Colombo before dawn on Monday from a light aircraft, the Air Force said, killing two airmen and wounding 17.

"A light Tiger aircraft flew over the air force base and dropped explosives. There have been two explosions. At the same time our air defences activated and there is a search operation going on," said Air Force spokesman Group Captain Ajantha de Silva.

The government said the attack, the first such aerial bombing by the Tigers -- who claim to have built up an air force -- was aimed at the military base and did not cause any damage to the adjacent civilian airport.

Airline officials said the airport, 23 miles (37 km) north of the capital Colombo, had been closed and Sri Lankan airlines said all arrivals and departures were on hold.

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