Body of One of Five Missing Naval Officers Recovered

 The body of one of the five naval officers who went missing during the widening of the Chalai Lagoon estuary in Mullaitivu has been found. This group of naval officers went missing on November 28, while engaged in an operation to remove sandbars near the Chalai Lagoon estuary and widen the area.

As a result of extensive search operations conducted by security forces by land and air, the body of one of the missing officers was found approximately 5 kilometers from the lagoon. The body has been identified by his relatives as that of Leading Electrician D. M. K. M. Dissanayake, a resident of Pelwehera, Dambulla. Navy Media Spokesman Commander Buddhika Sampath also confirmed this.

The final rites for Mr. Dissanayake, whose body was found on the 1st, were conducted yesterday (04) with full naval honors. Security forces state that operations are still underway to find the other four officers who went missing in the incident: Sub Lieutenant Avishka Dilshan Wewita, a resident of Hanwella; Krishan Dhananjaya Wickramasinghe, a resident of Welimada; Chathuranga Wickramarathna, a resident of Naula, Matale; and Roshan Shanaka, a resident of Kaluwamodara, Aluthgama.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson further stated that the Navy remains continuously committed to providing relief to the affected population. He added that numerous services, such as distributing food and water, cleaning wells and hospitals, rescuing distressed people, and removing debris stuck in bridges and water treatment plants using divers, are being carried out with the involvement of all naval officers.