A Bell 212 helicopter belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force crashed into the Maduru Oya reservoir early this morning, killing five military personnel, Air Force Media Spokesperson Group Captain Eranda Geeganage said.
The helicopter, which took off from the Hingurakgoda Air Force Base at 6.47 am, crashed at around 8.17 am while conducting a drill demonstration in the Maduru Oya area.
There were 12 people on board the aircraft, including 6 members of the Army Special Forces, two members of the Air Force Regiment Special Forces, two other Air Force personnel and two pilots.