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Lanka crash probe commences

P Mohan Das in Colombo

A special inquiry commission appointed by the Sri Lanka Air Force on Sunday commenced investigation into the crash of a MI-17 helicopter that killed minister M H M Ashraff and 14 others. The team is headed by chief of staff Air Vice-Marshal T D Perera.

The Russian-made air force copter, chartered by Ashraff, was flying from Colombo to Ampara in the east when it crashed on Saturday morning in the dense jungles of Arunayake, 70 km from Colombo.

"The cause is yet to be ascertained," air force sources said.

Among those who died were a ruling People's Alliance candidate, three security guards, two provincial journalists and some of the minister's close political associates. Five air force personnel, who comprised the crew, were also killed.

The Sunday Times reported that 40 minutes after take-off, the pilot had radioed the control tower that he was flying with 'all operations normal'. That happened just three to four minutes before control lost radio contact with the whirlybird.

What happened to the MI-17 which, going by Squadron Leader Shiran Perera's admission, was flying in fine weather with nothing adverse to report, is a mystery, the report said.

Senior air force officials have been quoted by the paper as saying that they do not rule out the possibility of an Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam missile attack or even an onboard explosion.

In an earlier transmission to control, the pilot reportedly said there were 15 people on board. However, a government release on Saturday evening said that only 13 people boarded the ill-fated chopper. It also said 13 charred bodies were recovered from the crash site.

The funeral of Ashraff was held late on Saturday night at Colombo's Jawatta Muslim burial ground in keeping with his last wishes. According to family members, Ashraff had requested his funeral be held within four hours of his death.

His body was brought to Colombo from the site of the crash in the night. A large number of Muslim leaders and party supporters, attended the funeral.

Earlier President Chandrika Kumaratunga visited the minister's residence and consoled the family members.

Kalmunai in eastern Ampara, his home constituency, observed a total hartal on Saturday and Sunday. All shops and other business establishments remained closed after news of the minister's death spread. In Batticaloa also, people were observing a hartal as a mark of respect to the departed leader.

The national flag will fly at half-mast on Monday at all government buildings.

UNI

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