2ND LEAD:

SLAF Helicopter comes under fire in Arugambay

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 13:56 GMT]
An MI-17 Military helicopter of the Sri Lanka Airforce (SLAF) came under gunfire and made an emergency landing in Kumana, Amparai district, around 3.15 p.m. Wednesday, Sri Lanka Air Force spokesman Ajantha de Silva told media in Colombo. The incident took place 10 air-miles off Arugambay. The gunfire did not cause any damage except puncturing a few holes in the frame and the helicopter took off after a brief inspection, SLAF sources said.

Six of 13 shots hit the helicopter flying over Arugambay in Pottuvil, according to the SLAF spokesman in Colombo.

SLAF pilots flying the helicopter Maipala and Kanjana Hevage were the only persons on board when the incident took place, military sources in Colombo said adding that 22 persons were on board the helicopter when it took off from Colombo Wednesday morning.