18th July 2016 05:13:52 Hours
Sri Lanka Army National Guard (SLNG) troops, responding to an SoS call regarding disappearance of a five-member group of tourists, including two French nationals who went on a mountaineering expedition to the Saptha Kanya (Seven Hills of Virgin) hill range off Norton Bridge Saturday (16) evening, but suddenly lost their way, were rescued unhurt this morning (18).
Reports confirmed that French nationals, Morgen Augur and Lewis Busseini, Sri Lankans O.D.S Fonseka, P.C.M Madurawela and G.A.P Vishvanath braving cloudy, unusually chilly and inclement weather conditions, had undertaken the fun-making expedition early Saturday (16) morning, expecting to return the same evening, but they had got lost inside those mountain valleys as palls of thick and dark clouds enveloped the area with no sign of an exit back to the foot of the mountains.
On being informed of the disappearance of those tourists, a 44-member strong contingent of 19 SLNG troops of the 112 Brigade under the Security Force Headquarters-Central, despite ice-cold and windy weather patterns, rushed to the scene and began their search operations across different directions the same dark evening.
After a near 14 hours of continued search, troops finally located their whereabouts and traced the stranded group of tourists at about 7.15 am this morning (17) who were found by then fully exhausted, frightened and hungry. Troops immediately provided them with glucose, water and stimulating beverages before they were made to return to the starting-point of their expedition and feed them.
By Sunday (17) noon, Commanding Officer, 19 SLNG contacted the Norton Bridge Police and handed over them for onward arrangements. Those tourists thanked the Army profusely for their timely action and unfailing support for tracing them.
