Despite Torrential Rains Army Troops Continue Search for Missing Monk

A contingent of more than 125 Army troops including officers in collaboration with Balangoda policemen, officials at Ratnapura Disaster Management Centre and civilians for the consecutive second day are tirelessly engaged in the search for the missing Buddhist monk, Ven. Horana Anomadassi Thera who is believed to have been buried in the mudslide that swept across his monastery on the Niyadagala hill at Puwakgahawela, Balangoda on Tuesday (3) due to torrential rains.

Alerted to the disaster, troops of the 583 Brigade under the Security Force - West (SF-West) responded quickly and joined hands together with other authorities in their search for the missing monk. Their operations began late Tuesday evening and continued till Wednesday (4) evening but with no results.

However, the Army troops together with others commenced search operations early this morning (5) after the rains turned better.

On the directions of Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander SF-West the troops will continue until the whereabouts of the missing monk is found.