SLAF trooper drowns in Galkissa

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 March 2006, 10:47 GMT]
A Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) officer, engaged in training exercises Monday morning, accidentally fell in the sea off Mt. Lavinia during a search and rescue exercise, Police said. The incident took place one km into the sea off Mt. Lavinia, Galkissa, located 11 km south of Colombo.

26-year-old Pilot Officer of the SLAF, Nalin Jayasinghe, fell into the sea while he was being lifted by a helicopter cable.

"The cable snapped and sent the officer crashing into the sea, bursting his life saving jacket," the spokesperson said.

The dead body was found after a two and half hour search operation in the area with help from the Sri Lanka Navy and local civilians, the spokesperson said.