Army Commander proclaimed, Mission Accomplished, on Tuesday the 19th of May 2009. The bloody war is finished and we are going to usher a new era from now. This damn war, which has taken more than 70,000 lives over a period of nearly 03 decades is over, giving total victory to the government forces. LTTE, contrary to the traditional belief, has been militarily defeated very convincingly. All its leaders including terror chief Velupillai Pirapaharn is killed. This victory is a combined team effort of all government military machine and credit evenly goes to all Sri Lankans here and abroad.
When i came to know through a friend of mine in the army about the linking up of 58 and 59 divisions at a beach head just North of Mulaitivu in the wee hours of Sunday the 17th , i was simply elated. For me, that was not another routine piece of news. That was a very valuable news item for me who still has enough of salt in my blood to last a life time. This link up created history. For the first time since tiger guerrillas launched their separatist campaign, we are now in total control of the entirety of the island's coast line. In naval jargon, we now control our seas around the country and this is the first time it has been so. A sense of relief came to my mind and i unintentionally made a sigh of relief. Suddenly...my mind dashed to early part of 1987 where we then, 16th intake of officer cadets from Sri Lanka Navy experienced our first battle experience on board a 'Fast Gun Boat' entering Karainagar naval base located stone's throw away from LTTE held kayts island from the other side. We, raw cadets were ordered to put on body armour jackets and helmets to man the 37mm and 25mm heavy armaments on board whilst entering. We were battle ready in all respect. The then, Executive officer or XO of the ship, now a good friend of mine living in US, explained to us that the whole of Kayts island is under LTTE controlled and we are vulnerable for sea borne attack from there. We budding officers were not that mature enough to fully comprehend what was being told then. Much of the things muttered to us simply didn't make much sense to us. But the battle preparations of the gun boat implied that we could be in harm's way at any time when we are plying near to an enemy held coastline. All 10 officer cadets from 16th intake(my batch), who were on board felt this danger. Among us were officer cadets Anura Nanayakkara; a fine athlete and a cricketer from Royal College and Chandima Wijayapura; Sri Lanka school footballer and a fine hockey player from Maristela College,Negambo. Both of them are no more with us now as duo made their supreme sacrifice in line of their noble duty to protect mother lanka almost 16 years ago.
Chandima was called by different names by different people. He was very near and dear to me, which prompted me to call him by his first name. To his mom and dad, he was 'Gorbuck'. Since i was a frequent visitor to his place in Negambo, mainly to have a delicious meal cooked by his mom,'Princy aunt', i also quite frequently called him 'Gorbuck'. To many in the batch, he was simply 'Bada'. To some others, he was 'Pura'.
Chandima certainly was a team player.And he had a big heart; most probably a family inheritance. His humble abode in Negambo was our 'free meal house'. we were always welcome there and its doors were opened to us. when ever any of us made our,'princy Aunt' was busy making arrangements to make sure that our stomachs are full with very palatable dishes. Fresh fish brought in from nearby 'Negambo walla' was a definite dish.
16th intake in the Sri Lanka Navy is very versatile batch in the Navy (subject to debate). we guys are equally capable in many a departments. And Bada also possessed most of these qualities He was a fine sportsman, excelled in his studies and always was well inside top five of the batch.He always took part in any extra curricular activities in the batch. A mild boozer he was, enjoyed every bit of it with a 'peculiar dance' unique to him keeping the glass on top of his head. He was equally up to any mischievous things. His main characteristics what i see in him was his genuine concern for people; be them superiors, peers or subordinates. He was simply second to none in that aspect. Pura was a brave sailor. In 1993, if my memory serves me correct, under his command navy succeeded bringing in two water jet craft from Elephant pass (EPS) to Nagathevanturai amids heavy resistance of sea tigers. And gorbuck did the damn thing in style, caring too hoot about the plenty of sea mines laid by enemy in the jaffna lagoon; a death ground for many a sailors. Those heroics were talked of very highly by our Army brothers with whom we manned defences around strategic Poonneryn area.
Bada was always fun to be around with. Certain things he did, especially during our 'strenuous cadet period' still linger in our minds. We, 16th intake guys still are unable to comprehend over many rounds of 'spirits' over all these years how he manged to do an about turn, that is a 180 dgree one, carrying a SLR, on top of a slippery roller whose top was rounded during one of our 'parade training' exercises. When the order was given by Master Chief Petty Officer KH perera; our gunnery instructor, Pura executed it superbly. A trade mark 'Bada drill, it became later.
Anura was always called by 'Nana' by all in the navy. I don't remember any one calling him by his first name. Nana was a fine athlete fro Royal college and a very intelligent officer. He knew bit of 'tricks in the trade' even prior joining the navy. I don't hesitate to call him a 'jack of all trades'. Otherwise strenuous 'Navy cadet training' was bit of smooth sailing for Nana. He dressed immaculately at all times and took a long time to prepare his uniforms to make sure that those are 'ship shaped'. His boots and shoes shined like a mirror and bootlaces were no exception. Despite his out going kind of character, he was a 'neat and bright' officer throughout our whole navy training period of well over two years. Like Bada, he always secured a place among top five in the batch.
As many of us, Nana was a mild boozer; a navy tradition of yesteryear's. sometimes, more often than not, he exceeded 'mild' to be in 'heavy'. he always had a 'reason' to be engage in breaking the 5th precept. It could be a family problem, one connected to his close friends or simply unhealthy economic situation in the country. He was very concerned about all these issues and opted to sleep with them. To relieve himself of being stressed out, he simply needed a 'small drink'. I don't for a moment find any wrong with it.
IPKF were billeted in the Dockyard when we were Midshipmen. They had 'Rum' in plenty and didn't have good quality boots. Nana reintroduced the age old bartering system. IPKF soldiers were happy with our boots and we with Indian rum. Not a bad exchange though...
One day Nana met with an accident. He had severe cuts and bruises compelling him to be in the hospital for few weeks. " some stupid fellas have erected a lamp post right in the middle of the Galle road at Panadura....and i didnt notice it when i was riding at midnight, quipped Nana when we asked him about the accident.
When i got the sad news about the Nana's Dvora is sunk by LTTE off Trincomalee sea with the entire crew, i had just arrived at my home from Trincomalee. Only in the previous day i handed over my command of a Dvora to one of my friend after serving nearly 18 months. Nana took over his command barely two days before...that was his destiny
Uditha was a product of Royal College and his classmates from Royal were Nana,Prasanna and Ajith perera; all of whom happened to be in the 16th intake now. Uditha was a very social character who had very refined manners. He was, unlike many, a calm and collected officer. He was well accepted by the fair sex. He was very concerned about his not so fair complexion. As a remedy he spent a quite big money on various kind of creams. Nevia was one of his favorite. Prasanna told me that when they were trained in India he used to continue this practice. One day after a couple of layers of Nivea to go for a party supposed to attended by gorgeous Indian ladies, Uditha has asked Prasanna 'who do u think more fair between we two?'. I can guess what would have been the reply of Prasanna being the fairest guy in the batch.
Uditha spent much of his navy time in India for training. He was in Sri Lanka in early 1993 after his training and i was the Navigating officer on board SLNS Edithara; a surveillance command ship of medium size. We bith were lieutenants then. When i got the news that he will join my ship as an electrical officer, i was simply elated. Our ship used to patrol for a month before coming to a harbour. Even though we were used to this, having a batch mate with you definetely helps to ease boredom. Anticipating his arrival, i made all arrangement to share my 'cabin' with Uditha. On that fateful day, we were patrolling off Point Pedro. Uditha had embarked P 465 which sailed from Trincomalee for North sea patrolling to join Edithra. As the standard practice, P465; an Israel built fast attack craft popularly known in the navy as Dvora would come along side to Edithra to disembark Uditha. when she was heading up near Point Pedro, OIC of the Dvora,again a good friend of mine had spotted a flotilla of fishing craft and decided to check them before approaching my ship which was barely 20 Km away. There had been one LTTE suicide boat laden with explosive disguised as a fishing craft waiting for its prey. When the Dvora approached to the fishing cluster, LTTE suicide craft blew itself up, severely crippling the Dvora. Most of the crew members were killed due to this deadly blast,probably Uditha among them. within couple of minutes, a flotilla of Sea Tiger craft surrounded ill fated Dvora and rest is all history. I was monitoring the enemy transmissions from the ship and was able to understand this deadly episode. The innocent dream of 'two batch mates' uniting themselves after couple of years apart thus shattered....forever.
Thus, I lost 03 of my batch mates within a Span of very short time. Only Nana was married among them. Nana's son Naveen was was very small when he fell, and don't have much memory about his dad. Naveen and has mom Merhala, a fine lady from Chavakachcheri now lives in USA. We officers of the 16th intake officer a dana to Preethipura Orphanage every year to commemorate our fallen comrades who gave their today for our tommorrow. Last year, !6th intake officers of the navy, built a house at Ragama for one Mr. Somapala; a Navy Civil employee, in memory of our 03 heroes who made the supreme sacrifice.
It was long time before i came to my proper senses. All TV chanels l were awash with victories in the battle field and final victory is well within reach. Celebrations have already commenced all over the cuntry. I felt a sense of pride, when thought about the supreme sacrifice made by my 03 batch mates in the noble duty of protecting our motherland. Sirs...i respectfully salute you.
