May 02, 2007	Wednesday	Rabi-us-Sani 14, 1428

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COLOMBO, May 1: Sri Lanka's World Cup cricketers are stranded in London after their scheduled flight for home was cancelled following Tamil Tiger rebel air raids in Colombo, officials said on Tuesday.

The players were booked on Emirates Airlines for the return journey from London via Dubai, but the airline has since pulled out of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Cricket officials said they hoped the 15-man squad and management team would be back in Sri Lanka early on Thursday as planned in time for official welcome celebrations after their loss to Australia in the World Cup final.

“There are 22 in the national contingent and we are trying to find seats to get them all home this week,” Sri Lanka Cricket spokesman Samantha Algama said.

“The parade and reception at Independence Square will go ahead as planned,” Algama added. “We hope to be in a position to confirm arrangements by Tuesday evening.”

Emirates and Hong Kong's flag carrier Cathay Pacific indefinitely suspended their flights to Sri Lanka following Sunday's air raids by Tamil Tigers near the capital's international airport.

The guerrillas used two light aircraft to bomb two fuel depots near Colombo.

The separatist Tigers warned on Monday their nascent air wing would launch more aerial attacks after a pre-dawn raid on oil facilities near the capital on Sunday.

The attack triggered air defences that cut power to the capital, leaving hundreds of thousands of cricket fans in the dark and unable to see the end of the match.

Sri Lanka lost the final by 53 runs as Australia notched up a record third consecutive World Cup victory.

International airlines Cathay Pacific and Emirates have both suspended flights in and out of Colombo, while Singapore Airlines has shifted its daily night-time departure to after midday – the Tigers' recent air raids have been conducted at night to help avoid detection.

Sri Lanka's two-decade civil war has been raging for months after a 2002 ceasefire collapsed, with near daily land and sea battles, ambushes and bombings. Analysts fear a conflict that has killed around 68,000 people since 1983 could rumble on for years.—Agencies