The Acting Magistrate of Dehiattakandiya, Y. Rajapaksha, yesterday (24) directed the Sri Lanka Police and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) to conduct separate investigations into the fatal crash of a SLAF Bell 212 helicopter into the Maduru Oya Reservoir in May.

The court ordered both institutions to determine and report the cause of the crash, which occurred on 9 May during a demonstration flight at a dispersal ceremony at the Army Special Forces camp in Maduru Oya.

The tragic accident claimed the lives of six armed forces personnel and left six others injured.

Following submissions by the Officer-in-Charge of the Dehiattakandiya Police, Acting Magistrate Rajapaksha personally visited the crash site. Police informed the court that internal investigations are underway—one led by the Air Force Commander and another by the Inspector General of Police.

The Acting Magistrate instructed the police to submit a detailed progress report on the investigations and emphasised that both inquiries should be conducted independently and thoroughly.