Colombo, Apr 7: Sri Lankan air force jets destroyed a Tamil rebel base believed used to train suicide attackers Monday, a day after a suicide bomber killed a government minister and 13 others outside the capital, the defense ministry said.

The jets bombed and destroyed the Tamil Tiger base in their northern stronghold of Mankulam early Monday, said a defense ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

There was no immediate comment from rebels on the ministry's claim.

The airstrike came a day after a suspected rebel suicide attacker bombed the opening ceremony of a marathon outside Sri Lanka's capital, killing the highways minister, a former Olympian and 12 others. Nearly 100 were wounded.

Sunday's bombing, the second this year to kill a senior government official, showed that while the rebels might be on the defensive against a military onslaught on their heartland in the north, they retain the ability to launch devastating attacks deep in government territory.

The bomb struck as Highways Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle prepared to start the marathon with the wave of a flag. Television footage later showed chaotic images of screaming people running through the bloodied streets.

``There was a sound of huge explosion and I saw a fireball,'' said Nishan Priyantha, a local journalist who was a few meters (yards) away from the blast, but escaped unhurt.

``I saw severed heads, hands and legs,'' witness Nalin Warnasooriya told The Associated Press. ``Blood and body parts were everywhere. It was a horrible scene.''

Fernandopulle, an acid-tongued politician who acted as the government's chief political enforcer, was considered a top rebel target. He died on the spot, said government spokesman Lakshman Hulugalle, blaming the rebels. Thirteen others were killed _ including former Olympic marathoner K.A. Karunaratne and national athletics coach Lakshman de Alwis _ and more than 90 were wounded, Hulugalle said. The rebels did not immediately comment on the attack, but they routinely deny attacks on civilians. The rebels have been blamed for more than 240 suicide attacks in recent decades and are listed as a terror group by the United States, European Union and India.

The Tigers have fought since 1983 for an independent homeland for ethnic minority Tamils after decades of marginalization by governments run by the Sinhalese majority. More than 70,000 people have been killed.