The Bandaranaike Airport attack marked a significant escalation in the Sri Lankan Civil War, which was fought between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commonly known as the Tamil Tigers. On this day, a group of 14 Tamil Tiger commandos executed a meticulously planned assault on Bandaranaike International Airport, one of the key transportation hubs in the country. Armed with heavy weaponry, the commandos targeted both military and civilian aircraft, leading to the destruction of 11 planes and causing substantial damage to an additional 15. The attack was not only aimed at military assets but also represented a tactical move to destabilize tourism, a vital sector in Sri Lanka’s economy.

In terms of human cost, the assault resulted in the deaths of seven soldiers from the Sri Lanka Air Force, three civilians, and a lone engineer. Despite their well-coordinated efforts, all 14 commandos were ultimately killed by Sri Lankan security forces in a fierce firefight that followed the initial attack. The security response illustrates the intensity of the conflict, but it also raised concerns about the effectiveness of security measures at critical infrastructure sites like airports.

The aftermath saw an immediate tightening of security protocols at major transport facilities across the nation. Furthermore, the attack had considerable implications for tourism and foreign investment, which were already being affected by the ongoing civil strife. The government's response to the attack involved enhanced military actions against the LTTE, ultimately prolonging the conflict and continuing a cycle of violence.