Sri Lankan Air Force confirms death of Wing Commander in crash amid disaster response

A Sri Lankan Air Force Bell 212 helicopter crashed on Sunday evening while engaged in disaster relief operations, killing its pilot, Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya.  

The crash occurred in Wennappuwa, Puttalam district, as the aircraft was returning from flood relief work. The helicopter went down in a paddy field near Gin Oya, according to eyewitnesses.  

The Air Force confirmed that Wing Commander Siyambalapitiya died in the accident. Four other crew members were rescued and hospitalized with injuries.  

Reports indicate that the pilot attempted an emergency landing away from a nearby bridge crowded with people seeking shelter, steering the aircraft toward water to avoid civilian casualties. His actions have been widely praised as heroic.  

The incident comes as Sri Lanka continues to grapple with one of its worst natural disasters in recent years. At least 334 people have been killed in floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains, while more than 370 remain missing. Tens of thousands have been displaced, and relief operations are ongoing across affected districts.  

The helicopter was part of the military’s emergency response, delivering aid and assisting in rescue efforts. The crash underscores the dangerous conditions faced by frontline responders working in flooded and unstable terrain.  

Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency, with both the military and police mobilized to assist civilians. International aid has begun arriving, but conditions remain difficult, with damaged infrastructure and disrupted transport links.