Bodies of missing persons found in Wilpattu

The security forces yesterday, recovered bodies of eight persons, including four security forces personnel, whose vehicle was ambushed allegedly by the Tigers, deep inside the Wilpattu Wild Life Park.

The dead included the Centre Commandant of the Saliyapura Army Camp, Lt Colonel Jayantha Suraweera, Major Jayaratne and Chief Warden of the Park, Wasantha Pushpananda.

A military official said the vehicle in which the deceased were travelling had lost contact with the escort vehicle, which had been mired in mud. After the retrieval, the escort vehicle was unable to restore contact with the Double Cab, in which the Centre Commandant and officers travelled.

"The vehicle has been ambushed obviously by the Tigers " said the military official. Colonel Suraweera had gone on an inspection tour in the wildlife park prone to infiltration by the Tigers.

The bodies of the victims were recovered 27 km from the entry point and closer to the area where eight wildlife enthusiasts including the award wining writer Nihal de Silva were killed in a landmine explosion, last year. The post mortem was conducted yesterday at the Anuradhapura Hospital.