Mi-24 aircrew named

[TamilNet, Friday, 17 December 1999, 17:29 GMT]
The names of the four Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) personnel killed when their Mi-24 helicopter gunship was shot down by the Liberation Tigers today were named by the Sri Lankan military.

They are Squadron Leader Tyronne Sylvesterpillai, Flight Lieutenant H.S.de Silva, First Officer C.C.Anura and Corporal Atukorale.

Their bodies were recovered from the wreckage by Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops, the military said.

The gunship was providing close air support to SLA troops defending their positions against attacks by the Liberation Tigers, the military said.