News
Remains of second Lankan who died in Hamas attack to return home
View(s):- 11 Sri Lankans stranded in Gaza Strip make it to Egypt following opening of Rafah Border Crossing
By Sandun Jayawardana
The remains of the second Sri Lankan confirmed to have died during Hamas’s attacks on Israel on October 7 are expected to arrive in the country early next week.
Sujith Bandara Yatawara and below, with family
The remains of Sujith Bandara Yatawara (48) from Wennappuwa were positively identified after DNA samples of his children matched an unidentified body that had been recovered by Israeli authorities. The Interpol Branch of the Israeli Police confirmed Mr Bandara Yatawara’s death on Friday (3), Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Tel Aviv Nimal Bandara stated.
Mr Bandara Yatawara, a father of two, had been listed as missing since October 7 and it was initially suspected that he may have been among the more than 200 hostages that Hamas militants had taken with them back to Gaza. However, on Friday his death was officially confirmed after the DNA match.
His remains will be flown back to Sri Lanka after religious rites are performed and Sri Lankans in Israel are given the opportunity to pay their last respects.
Mr Bandara Yatawara was the only Sri Lankan still listed as missing following the October 7 attacks. Earlier, Anula Ratnayake (49) from Eeriyawetiya, Kelaniya, was the first Sri Lankan to be confirmed dead following the attacks by Hamas. Her remains were brought back to Sri Lanka on October 21.
Meanwhile, 11 Sri Lankans from two families stranded in the Gaza Strip have finally made it to Egypt after the Rafah Border Crossing was opened to admit some wounded Palestinians and their companions as well as foreign passport holders. The Sri Lankan are at a hotel in Cairo pending their return back home, Nawalage Bennet Cooray, Sri Lanka’s Representative in Palestine told the Sunday Times. 
There is still concern regarding one family who had taken refuge in a church in the Gaza Strip. They have been unable to travel to the Rafah Crossing. The family, a father, mother and two children has been advised by church authorities not to make the dangerous journey to the Rafah Border Crossing owing to the volatile security situation in the area the church is situated in.
“They are too far away from the Rafah Crossing and the fighting and aerial bombardments in their area are far too intense. As such, the church authorities have advised them not to make the journey as of now since it is not safe,” revealed Mr Cooray. The Ambassador said his office in Ramallah, in coordination with the Sri Lankan Embassy in Cairo and Egyptian authorities are waiting to evacuate the remaining Sri Lankans.
The war between Israel and Hamas has intensified in recent days with the Israeli army commencing ground operations in parts of the Gaza Strip, leading to ferocious fighting between the two sides. More than 9000 Palestinians and 1400 Israelis are reported to have died since October 7.
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