Remains of Haputale plane crash victims handed over to families

COLOMBO (News 1st):- Commander of the Air Force Air Vice Marshal Sumangala Dias arrived at the crash site of the Y-12 aircraft belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force earlier this afternoon (January 4).  Meanwhile, the bodies of the members of the Air Force were handed over to their families today following the post mortem examination. Their remains were airlifted from the Badulla General Hospital. Squadron Leader Buddhi Weerabedda was the pilot of the plane at the time of the crash. His co-pilot was Flight Lieutenant Lankapura Kulatunga. Records show that Leading Aircraft Craftsman Hettiarachchi and Sergent D.W.Kumara were in the aircraft at the time of the crash. Squadron Leader Buddhi Weerabedda who was the pilot of the plane was a resident of Hokandara North. He was the father of one child. Flight Lieutenant Lankapura Kulatunga the co-pilot was a resident of Hondiyadeniya in Gampola. News 1st correspondent stated that he is the second child in his family and was engaged to get married in March. D.W. Kumara was a 37-year-old father of 2 children who resided in Rubberwatta, Tissamaharama. L.A.C Hettiarachchi who also lost his life in the crash was a resident of Tellijiwala, Murutawela in Matara. The cause of this crash is yet to be ascertained.