Dinura Wijesundara's body found at Mini World's End

Colombo (News 1st); Body of Dinura Wijesundara, who was reported missing following an excursion to Mini World's End in Madolsima was found, said Army Commander General Shavendra Silva. Sri Lanka Army Search and Rescue personnel braved gale winds and thick fog in their search for Sirasa TV’s Dinura Wijesundara who has been missing for three days following an excursion to Mini World’s End in Madolsima. A combined Army team of the Special Forces (SF) and 112 Brigade troops, together with Policemen and civilians for the third consecutive day resumed search operations to trace the whereabouts of a 35-year old man who had gone missing in dense jungles around the Mini World’s End cliff area in Kotagama Grama Niladhari Division in Bibila. The missing Dinura Wijesundera from Maggona, Kalutara had gone on a camping excursion with 11 others, including six Medical Officers when bad rainy weather conditions, gale-force winds and thick mist on Saturday (6) enveloped the entire area and compelled them to abandon their mission resulting in their abrupt return to their vehicles during the early hours on Sunday (7). It had reportedly taken a few hours for them to proceed back amidst worsening weather and thick darkness, but found en route that the said victim had gone missing while they were returning to their place from where they began their foot journey. On information received, troops of the Special Forces (SF) and 112 Brigade troops of the Security Force HQ-Central, together with the Police rushed to the area and began search operations, braving all odds and unfavourable weather patterns. However, no trace of the missing person has been detected as of Tuesday (9) noon, but search teams carried out operations on the instructions of their respective Commanding Officers. It is presumed that the victim would have slipped and fallen off the deep precipice, unable to trace the jungle footpath in the midst of worst weather, mist, and darkness. As of this morning, troops of the 112 Brigade and Special Force troops were engaged in the operation. An attempt by Special Forces to go down the cliff using rappelling technique had to be abandoned this morning after about 90 ft in-depth due to prevailing thick frost and poor visibility. Supervising developments, Major General Kumara Jayapathirana, Commander, Security Forces - Central, Brigadier Anura Dissanayake, 112 Brigade Commander, and Brigadier Thushara Mahalekamge, SF Brigade Commander are currently at the location, together with their search and rescue teams.