The first section of the emergency rescue and relief contingent aboard an SLAF flight, left the Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport for the earthquake-stricken Nepal  yesterday morning (26 Apr 15) to assist ongoing rescue and relief operations in the densely-populated Kathmandu valley, devastated by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake which has reportedly claimed more than 3000 lives.

This is the first time in its history, that an SLAF Aircraft has been utilized for a rescue mission in a foreign country.  Sri Lanka Air Force never having landed at Katmandu prior to this, it is to the credit of the Aircrew, led by the Captain of the Aircraft Sqn Ldr VGP Mahanama and Co-pilot Wg Cmdr DKM Krishantha that the SLAF C-130 aircraft landed at Katmandu without any difficulty under dangerous and trying conditions.

The C-130 is expected to transport a number of Sri Lankans stranded in Nepal due to the earth quake, on its return journey.