 The Learjet 35A in which Wijewardene crashed was also a registered aircraft of the airline.Although other companies of the Upali group continued operating after the founder's death, the beginning of the Sri Lankan Civil War between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government spelled doom for this small airline.The increased controls and security measures, along with the conversion of certain civilian airfields, such as Ratmalana Airport, into military bases for the Sri Lankan Air Force, made Upali Air's operation no longer viable.