Five missing pilgrims rescued

The Special Task Force of the Police rescued the five pilgrims who had lost their way while making the pilgrimage to the top of Sri Pada.

The five had entered the Sri Pada forest reserve through the upper division of the Laxapana Estate on Monday, but lost their bearings soon after.

The Sri Lanka Air Force deployed a Bell 412 to locate the missing pilgrims and the Special Task Force was sent to facilitate their rescue. Four of the pilgrims are residents of Nugegoda and include a woman. The fifth is an estate workers attached to the Laxapana Estate.