My helicopter not for rescue missions: Sajin

United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Sajin Vass Gunawardene said yesterday his helicopter did not have the capability to carry out rescue operations.

He said this in response to a statement made by United National Party (UNP) MP Wijedasa Rajapaksa that Mr. Gunawardene had not provided a helicopter to be used in rescue operations last Saturday when the cyclone hit the Balapitiya coastal belt.

He described Mr. Rajapaksa as a learned self-proclaimed legal luminary who was unaware that only twin-engine helicopters with the doors and other obstacles removed that could handle rescue operations.

Mr. Gunawardene said any helicopter that operates under a civil operating licence was not permitted to fly unless specific approval was obtained from the Civil Aviation Authority of Sri Lanka while special equipment had to be also installed.

He said the only institution in Sri Lanka that was currently permitted by the CAA to undertake such rescue missions was the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Mr. Gunawardene said in adverse weather conditions like strong winds, rain and lack of visibility, small sin- gle engine helicopters could not fly.

He asked Mr. Rajapaksa to help them by contributing funds to improve the livelihood of the affected families. “I have on my own organised a ‘Livelihood sustenance programme effective immediately,” he said.“It is very easy for people such as Wijedasa Rajapaksa to keep criticising but let us see whether he will put his money where his mouth is.”