Navy on a risky and difficult Mission to save Civilians trapped in Floods

In a swift response to the prevailing flood situation in the country, Sri Lanka Navy has been engaged in rescue missions to save lives and to provide relief assistance to the people affected. Accordingly, a rescue operation was launched by the Sri Lanka Navy last night (03rd January 2011) in coordination with the Sri Lanka Army and the residents in the area to save the lives of the people trapped in the floods triggered by the overflowing of the Mahaveli River in the Siththaru area in Trincomalee. They carried out the rescue operation risking their own lives in the face of strong currents unleashed by the floods flowing at a devastating pace creating havoc in the entire area due to the prevailing adverse weather.

A group of 16 civilians including children and women was reported trapped on the bank of the Mahaveli River close to the Siththaru Bridge and a naval craft was immediately dispatched on the rescue operation to save their lives with the assistance of the Siththaru Army Camp. The craft, which was engaged in a difficult mission risking the lives of service personnel onboard to save the trapped civilians, met with an accident on its way back due to the strong currents. An immediate rescue mission was put in place by the Navy with its divers and the assistance of the Army personnel and the people in the area to rescue the lives of those on board the naval craft. However, 05 persons including a sailor on the naval craft went missing in the swelled waters. An extensive naval operation has now been launched by the Navy divers to locate the missing persons.

However, it is saddening to note that 05 persons have gone missing in the rescue operation which saved the lives of 12 civilians under difficult and risky circumstances in the face of the strong currents.

Despite the danger and risks involved, the Navy is continuing its rescue operations on humanitarian grounds to save the lives and to provide assistance to the people affected by the floods utilizing its assets and expertise.