Hero Who Sacrificed His Life to Save Others Makes Final Journey Today (3)

"These people are truly helpless, we must help them as much as we can while we are here. It's a very regrettable situation," these were the last words spoken to his wife by Wing Commander Nirmal Siyambalapitiya of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the pilot of the helicopter that crashed while providing relief to disaster victims.

This 41-year-old hero, who died in the accident and resided in Kirimatiyana, Lunuwila, Wennappuwa, was a father of one child and a brilliant alumnus of Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa. Air Force sources indicate that while attempting to rescue a group of people trapped in the floods in his hometown, fighting between life and death, the helicopter he was piloting suffered a sudden technical malfunction. At that moment, to prevent a major disaster that would have befallen the people on the ground, he steered the aircraft towards the Gin Oya and made it crash into the water.



At the moment the aircraft suffered a technical malfunction, Pilot Siyambalapitiya, determined that even if he died, no harm should come to the people affected by the floods who were awaiting assistance, steered the aircraft away from the populace and towards the Gin Oya. His wife, Mrs. Buddhika Lakmini Gunaratne, with eyes full of tears, unable to bear the loss of her husband, stated that her husband, who had a very sensitive heart, left behind an irreplaceable void for her and their son. She recalled that after he told her over the phone that he was going to provide relief to the people in the Palaviya area of Puttalam, she was unable to contact him, and she learned of her husband's demise from a call received from the camp around 7:00 PM that night.

His wife mentioned that Mr. Nirmal Siyambalapitiya made immense sacrifices for his family in addition to his duties. Especially, as soon as his duties ended, he never forgot to check on his son, and on the 27th, he left for the Ratmalana camp for duties and even spoke that evening, informing her that he was engaged in disaster relief services. He was preparing to receive his Master's degree at the university's graduation ceremony scheduled for December 2nd, but he departed from the nation without being able to attend. Amidst her deep sorrow, she stated that she is still proud of the invaluable service her husband rendered to the country.

Mrs. Vimala Weerasinghe, a retired bank officer and the deeply distressed mother of the deceased, stated that her second son, who was exceptionally talented since his school days, joined the Air Force in 2005. She tearfully expressed that it was like a cruel twist of fate that he, who was always inclined to help others, embarked on his final journey while going to assist helpless people in Lunuwila, his very hometown. The mother and father of the deceased pilot were seen immersed in profound silence near the body, unable to comprehend anything.

Lieutenant Chamara Ekanayake, the co-pilot of the crashed Bell 212 aircraft, describing the incident, stated that the accident occurred while they were engaged in a humanitarian mission to provide relief to people who had been hungry for days. With the technical malfunction of the aircraft, it crashed into a river about 20 feet deep. He said that although he and the rest of the crew survived, they were unable to save Pilot Siyambalapitiya. The co-pilot stated to the Wennappuwa Police that while the aircraft was submerged, he and Corporal Jayawardena dived underwater, unbuckled the pilot's seatbelt, and pulled him out, but he was already unconscious.

At the time of the accident, a group of local youths assisted Air Force personnel in bringing the pilot ashore by entering the water with the aid of planks, while another group threw ropes from a wall.

Subsequently, he was taken to a nearby house for first aid and then transported to Marawila Base Hospital by a 1990 Suwasariya ambulance, but doctors confirmed that he had already passed away. The other four who survived the accident are currently in good health.

Mr. Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, who received his education at St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, and joined the 48th Cadet Officer Course of the Sri Lanka Air Force on July 5, 2005, was commissioned as a pilot officer after training at the Air Force Academy. He was a skilled officer who received special training in handling Bell 206, 212, 412, and MI-17 type helicopters and was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander in 2024. He was recognized within the Air Force as an experienced pilot, having flown for over 3,000 flight hours in active service.

The body of the fallen pilot, Mr. Nirmal Siyambalapitiya, was brought to his ancestral home in Lunuwila yesterday (02) morning, and a large number of Air Force officers and local residents came to pay their last respects. The body was kept there until 2:00 PM yesterday, after which arrangements were made to take it to St. Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa, where he studied, for religious rites. Subsequently, the body was to be taken to his residence on Air Force Road, Ratmalana, and the final rites are scheduled to take place today (03) at 4:00 PM at the Galkissa Public Cemetery.

Video related to the incident click here