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Lanka minister dies in air crash

COLOMBO, Sept 16 (PTI) — A senior Sri Lankan minister and 14 more were killed today when an MI-17 helicopter carrying them crashed in the mountain jungles in the east of the country.

Ports Minister and leader of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC) M.H.M. Ashraff, nine of his supporters, three bodyguards and two crew members were travelling to his home constituency of Ampara when the crash occurred, officials here said.

Top Sri Lankan police officials said rescue teams which reached the site soon after the crash confirmed that there were no survivor and Mr Ashraff’s family had been officially informed about his death.

They said 12 charred bodies had been found by search teams at the crash site. The wreckage of the helicopter was strewn around a vast area near Aranayake in north-central Kegalle district.