Ministry of Defence - Sri Lanka

SLAF plane crash : Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court orders Government Analyst to submit findings

January 03, 2020

The Bandarawela Magistrate’s Court has ordered the Government Analyst, the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department of Meteorology to produce their findings related to the aircraft crash that killed four airmen of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) this morning.

The Chinese built Y 12 Fixed Wing Light Transport aircraft that took off from Weerawila had been on a routine air reconnaissance mission at the time it crashed at Thambipeella Mawatha, Ayspeella at 9:15 am, today.

The Government Analyst, officers of the Survey Department and the Police Scene Crime Officers of the Bandarawela Division, who came to the location today, had already commenced their investigations.

According to OIC of Haputale Police Station Inspector R. Dayaratne, the records of the communication held with the aircraft at the time of the crash will also be taken for further investigations.

A female villager, who was at the location at the time of the crash, was admitted to the Haputale District Hospital.

Badulla and Monaragala Division’s Deputy Inspector General of Police Asanga Karavita, who inspected the scene has ordered the regional Police officers to conduct investigations.

According to IP Dayaratne, two SLAF pilots - Squadron Leader W.A.M.B.N.B Weebedda (35) and Flight Lieutenant   K.M.D.L. Kulatunga (28)  and two airmen – Sergeant D.W.R.Y Kumara (30) and Leading Aircraftman N.L.D. Hettiarachchi (37) had died at the aircraft crash.

Meanwhile, the SLAF, which had sent its investigators to the site immediately after the aircraft crash, has appointed a special investigation board to probe into the incident.

 

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