News
Armed forces spearhead rescue, relief operations in disaster zones
View(s):
Armed forces personnel on a humanitarian mission. Pix by Lakshman Gunathilaka and Amila Gamage
Members of the armed forces yesterday continued to engage in rescue and relief operations in areas affected by floods and landslides. Thousands have already been safely evacuated but senior officers said operations were still ongoing in many areas.
Military Spokesman Brigadier Jayanath Jayaweera said about 1,500 army personnel were involved. About 600 of these were deployed to areas in Colombo, while 143 commandos were among armed forces personnel engaged in the rescue efforts at the landslide site in Aranayake.
“In Colombo alone, the army had safely evacuated nearly 47,000 persons from flooded areas using 56 boats belonging to both the army and civilians,” said Brigadier Jayaweera.
The Sri Lanka Navy had deployed 105 small boats, each manned by a crew of six sailors, to flooded areas from Hanwella down to Colombo, Navy Spokesman Captain Akram Alavi told the Sunday Times.
Navy boats had safely evacuated some 22,000 persons by yesterday. In addition, Navy personnel were also engaged in distributing relief supplies throughout the affected areas.
Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Spokesman Group Captain Chandima Alwis said all helicopter squadrons throughout the country were still engaged in ferrying relief material and conducting rescue operations.
The SLAF’s Bell 212, Bell 412 and Mi-17 helicopters and Beechcraft Reconnaissance aircraft were all engaged in flood relief operations.
Group Captain Alwis said the SLAF had conducted about 15 sorties (flights) on Saturday alone as part of its relief efforts.
SLAF aircraft had airlifted about 4,000 kg of cargo including 5,900 food packs, 11,120 litres of water, 920 kg of dry rations and 150 kg of medicines.
The SLAF is also engaged in airlifting critically ill persons trapped by the floods, to hospitals. Three such persons were safely evacuated by air yesterday, including a heart patient from Ranala, the SLAF spokesman added.
