A training aircraft crashed, killing two SLAF officers.

A training aircraft belonging to the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy at China Bay crashed a few minutes after taking off from the airstrip of China Bay Air Force Base, killing the pilot, Wing Commander Tharindu Herath, and the engineer, Flying Officer Peshan Warnasooriya, who were onboard the aircraft. Wing Commander Tharindu Herath is a past pupil of Maliyadeva Boys College, Kurunegala, and the flying officer is an old boy of St Anne’s College, Kurunegala. Air Force Commander Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa appointed a committee to investigate the incident.