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Air Force evacuates devotees

9 May 2010 01:57 pm - 21     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Sri Lanka Air Force had to distribute food by air and also evacuated 4 severely dehydrated devotees trapped in the Somawathiya area in Pollonaruwa today, Air Force spokesman Janaka Nanayakara said.

Thousands of Buddhist devotees who are attending religious observances at Somawathiya have been trapped as a result of floods in the area. According to reports two person has died so far and 20 others have sustained injuries.

According to the Air Force spokesman Bell 212 helicopters were used in the operation to assist the trapped civilians. (Daily Mirror online)







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  Comments - 21

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  • Monday, 10 May 2010 04:28 AM

    NATURE IS AGAINST FALSEHOOD.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 09:06 AM

    Malkanthi, if you don't know dont talk. Somawathie area has never been a fighing area. It's just a hiding area for LTTE. Don't mess up you political vision with religion,

    Monday, 10 May 2010 06:55 AM

    I am confident that the Priest who orgnized this event did it in good faith.However Lord Buddha never believed in miracles and it should be remembered that any pilgrimage to this hallowed site should be restricted to numbers that could be accomodated at Somawathiya with basic facilities such as water toilets and shelter.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 06:35 AM

    Bad organizing .

    Monday, 10 May 2010 06:14 AM

    Do not agree with Gemba. So the Air Force only helped becasue the pilgrims were "buddhist" ? This is the exact mindset our country needs to move away from. Air Forces in all countries help civilians during disasters in times of peace. All credit to the SL air force for using their capabilities well in peace time.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:55 AM

    More than 800000 people from around the country participated the great Somawathi Stupa worship yesterday. These people have come from more than 50000 vehicles. Any kind of flood has nothing to do with the people being trapped in that area at the moment. Since there are a lot of vehicles and the roads are not large enough for such traffic, the movement is slow at this point. Please ensure your sources and for the accuracy of the news before publishing them in the future.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:27 AM

    I was there yesterday.Must give credits to Army and Police also.There are doing great job there.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:13 AM

    Go and fly a kite

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:10 AM

    This area soil is soaked with blood. So revoke the curses before calling it sacred!!

    Monday, 10 May 2010 05:10 AM

    Ya right…… like organizers are the GODs of Rain.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 04:32 AM

    Thank you, Air Force.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 03:19 PM

    What a tragedy for the pilgrims. Credit to the Air Force.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 04:04 AM

    Good lesson for those who believe in ill-logical miracles. It was not what Great Buddha taught to us. Why can't they try to protect "Panchasheela" rather than waisting time on such rubbish.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 04:03 AM

    WELL SAID AJANTHA. 100% AGREED

    Monday, 10 May 2010 04:02 AM

    authorities should not allow propaganda to be carried out to draw unsuspecting people to a remote , poorly serviced areas. Sanctity of such places is violated by organizing such events. ministries of Buddha sasana, cultural affairs and environment should ensure that normal pilgrim visits and activities are maintained and put a limit to the numbers of people gathering at any one time.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 03:38 AM

    Before organizing a this sort of religious ceremony, the organizers should have taken in to account the basic facilitates available in the Somawathiya area. The nearest city to Somawathiya is Polonnaruwa. Does Polonnaruwa have accommodation facilitates for 8 hundred thousand people? What above the toilet facilities and drinking water supply for that number of people. Participants should have also thought about these things before coming. Now who is going to be responsible for the lost lives and the calamity. Definitely all will put the blame on weather.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 03:30 AM

    The organizers who advertised everywhere about this event should give some contact numbers also.we have never seen this type of propaganda for buddhist pilgrims.Please keep SOMAWATHI temple as it was. Don't convert it to another ASAPUWA.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 02:55 AM

    The organizer's of the event must be held responsible for the two deaths.

    Monday, 10 May 2010 02:52 AM

    Early days Air Force dropped bombs in the same area to destroy terrorists. Today they drop meal/ essential items to support the people. Air Force has enough experience in the skies of that area. So they may do the job very corectly.
    On the other hand, even time to time SLAF air crafts should fly because pilots will forget how to fly & aircrafts might mal-functioned due to long term landings & remain idling.

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 09:08 PM

    In the past air force was dropping massive bombs in civilians settlement in war zone.. Since Buddhists are in trouble, airforce got involved in humanitarion activities too

    Sunday, 09 May 2010 05:23 PM

    Disaster Management Ministry would have known this by studying the weather forecast, as the entire country knew there were hundreds of thousands of people gathering at Somawathi Sacred Area.


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