4 SLA soldiers killed by lightning during preparation for 'War Victory Day' in Colombo

[TamilNet, Friday, 28 May 2010, 09:21 GMT]
Sri Lanka government failed to reveal the deaths of four Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers and others injured by lightning at Galle Face Green in Colombo while decorating the area for the War Victory Day celebrations, on 17, 18 April, two days prior to the event, sources in Colombo said. Though the government had concealed this incident from the public so as not to spoil the sprit of the first annual victory celebrations over Liberation Tigers, news of it had leaked through the employees of government and private offices and other establishments in Galle Face, the sources added. Tamil National Alliance and the other opposition parties had requested the government to cancell the celebration while the people was suffering but the government did celebrate the event.

Meanwhile, it is alleged that the government has not revealed the true number of soldiers killed in the war even after an year has passed, the sources added.

The torrents of rain had begun on 14 April and had persisted on the next three days with thunder and lightning.

Soldiers from the three armed forces of the government were engaged in elaborate decorative arrangements for the War Victory Day.

The actual number of soldiers injured in the lightning remains unknown.

Meanwhile, eight districts in the country including Gampaha and Colombo have been affected by floods in 28 civilians have been killed while more than five hundred thousand people are said to be affected, according Disaster Management Centre sources.