Ashraff killed with 14 others at Aranayake
[18 September 2000]

Minister M H M Ashraff, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and Minister of Ports and Rehabilitation was killed on Saturday along with 14 others at Aranayake, when the SLAF helicopter they were travelling in crashed, 25 minutes after taking off from Colombo, sources confirmed.

The Sri Lanka Air Force confirmed the crash but declined to name the 5-member crew on board the aircraft. Police said that Ashraff’s companions included three bodyguards, members of his staff and party people including a candidate for Digamadulla who was running alongside Ashraff on the PA ticket.

Police said that the helicopter had caught fire after the crash and villagers had reported seeing nine charred bodies. Two assault rifles were also found in the area.

Although there were no signs of bad weather on that day, the pilot of the helicopter had contacted the air traffic controllers saying there were problems of visibility and were lowering their altitude.

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