15th April 2026 11:17:41 Hours
At approximately 1600 hours on 12 April 2026, during a period of rainfall in the Kandy area, information was received via Police Emergency Services that a 30-year-old individual, employed at a private company in Maharagama and residing in the Yakkala–Yongonmulla area, had become lost at Katusu Konda in the Hanthana Mountain Range while on a hiking expedition.
Accordingly, upon receipt of the emergency message and under the supervision of the General Officer Commanding of 11 Infantry Division and on the instructions of the Commander, 111 Infantry Brigade, 02 x 08 troops of the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment were immediately deployed to the location to conduct a search and rescue operation. Despite extremely challenging conditions, including heavy rainfall, poor visibility, and dense fog, the troops conducted a continuous operation for approximately 13 hours. As a result of their dedicated efforts, the stranded individual was successfully located and rescued at approximately 0745 hours on 13 April 2026.
Upon reaching the location, the unit's trained personnel, using various support methods, descended to the location of the individual and rescued him safely. He was then taken down to the mountain with the assistance of the personnel and handed over to the police officers who reported from the Kandy Police Station.
