Sri Lanka Air Force conducted recce missions and food drop missions to support on-going Disaster Relief Operations by the Disaster Management Centre, all Government Authorities and service personnel on 18 May 2016.

Assessment of damage in the affected areas and identification of people who trapped due to landslides or flood were done during reconnaissance missions.

HE the President, Ministers of Parliament, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Commander of the Air Force, with several other government officials were on board during damage assessments missions.

The aircraft flew over flood and landslide affected areas of Aranayake, Bulathkohupitiya, Kelaniya and Biyagama. Cooked lunch packets were distributed among the people who are displaced in Dompe area by the SLAF members.  Two dry ration loads were dropped at Biyagama (BOI Zone).

Three (03) reconnaissance missions from Bell 412 helicopter, one(01) rescue and two(02) reconnaissance missions from Bell 212 helicopter and one(01) rescue mission from Mi 17 Helicopter were carried out from 0600 hrs to 1830 hrs.