• Latest
  • Trending

Families of Lankan soldiers missing in action still hope they’ll return

March 23, 2019
Electricity

Power cut schedule for July 5 in Sri Lanka

July 4, 2022
Why is the UK economy suffering more than other countries?

Why is the UK economy suffering more than other countries?

July 4, 2022
Covid health guidelines. Image credits - Phil Hearing / Unsplash (Representational image)

Covid: UK hospital cases set to rise, says health chief

July 4, 2022
Bangladesh’s exports climb to a record US$ 52bn in FY22

Bangladesh’s exports climb to a record US$ 52bn in FY22

July 4, 2022
Pope Francis denies he is planning to resign soon: Reuters exclusive

Pope Francis denies he is planning to resign soon: Reuters exclusive

July 4, 2022
Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  

Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  

July 4, 2022
US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

July 4, 2022
Covid-19 virus evolving to get better at becoming airborne: Report

Nine Omicron symptoms affecting the fully vaccinated – and signs you may have it

July 4, 2022
Gun

Copenhagen shooting: Gunman kills three in shopping mall

July 4, 2022
Miss India: Sini Shetty was announced winner at the grand finale in Mumbai. (Image courtesy: Instagram)

Miss India 2022 winner is Sini Shetty from Karnataka

July 4, 2022
Australia scraps Covid-19 vaccine requirement for international travellers

Australia scraps Covid-19 vaccine requirement for international travellers

July 4, 2022
The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia

The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia

July 4, 2022
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
Tuesday, July 5, 2022
No Result
View All Result
NewsIn.Asia
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Electricity

    Power cut schedule for July 5 in Sri Lanka

    Bangladesh’s exports climb to a record US$ 52bn in FY22

    Bangladesh’s exports climb to a record US$ 52bn in FY22

    Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  

    Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    Miss India: Sini Shetty was announced winner at the grand finale in Mumbai. (Image courtesy: Instagram)

    Miss India 2022 winner is Sini Shetty from Karnataka

    The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia

    The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia

    Karan Adani has a strong enterprising spirit, much like his father. Photo: @AdaniKaran/Twitter

    Meet Karan Adani, son of Asia’s richest man Gautam Adani

    Kanchana Wijsekara

    Companies in Sri Lanka can pay in dollars to receive a weekly assured fuel quota

    Schools. Image credits - Ivan Aleksic @ivalex / Unsplash

    Sri Lanka will close all schools next week due to the ongoing fuel crisis

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Why is the UK economy suffering more than other countries?

    Why is the UK economy suffering more than other countries?

    Covid health guidelines. Image credits - Phil Hearing / Unsplash (Representational image)

    Covid: UK hospital cases set to rise, says health chief

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    Covid-19 virus evolving to get better at becoming airborne: Report

    Nine Omicron symptoms affecting the fully vaccinated – and signs you may have it

    Gun

    Copenhagen shooting: Gunman kills three in shopping mall

    Australia scraps Covid-19 vaccine requirement for international travellers

    Australia scraps Covid-19 vaccine requirement for international travellers

    Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Queen Elizabeth and the British royal family, and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE royal family. Photos: @tamim, @RoyalFamily, @mohamedbinzayed/Instagram

    The world’s richest royal families of 2022 revealed

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Cristiano Ronaldo tells Manchester United he wants to leave

    Libyan protesters storm, set fire to parliament building

    Libyan protesters storm, set fire to parliament building

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Kamal Haasan's Vikram is on a rampage.

    Kamal Haasan’s Vikram is the highest-grossing film in Singapore, UK and UAE

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ celebrates 25 magical years

    Salman Khan

    Plot to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan revealed

    Shah Rukh Khan's Jawaan, to be directed by Atlee, to scheduled for June 2023 release. (Photo: Twitter)

    Shah Rukh Khan announces new film ‘Jawaan’

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’ becomes 3rd-highest-grossing Hindi film

    Popular Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were married Thursday in a private ceremony at their Mumbai residence. Image credits - Sujit Jaswal via AFP / Getty Images

    Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt marry in Mumbai

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    This April 2022 handout photograph provided by RR Auction shows cockroaches which were fed moon dust from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which were pulled from an auction listing after NASA said the cockroaches and a small vial of moon dust are property of the federal government. (Photo: AP)

    Give us back our moon dust and cockroaches: Nasa

    Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash

    China finds signs of water in moon’s ‘Ocean of Storms’

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    Beetroot is rich in nitrates and is loaded with health benefits. (Photo: Getty Images)

    Drinking beetroot juice daily could help people with heart condition

    Close-up view of a cancer cell. Credit: Alexey Kotelnikov / Alamy Stock Photo

    Massive breakthrough as cancer vanishes for all patients in drug trial

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    In this 1971 Center For Disease Control handout photo, monkeypox-like lesions are shown on the arm and leg of a female child in Bondua, Liberia. CDC | Getty Images

    The Covid conspiracies being recycled for monkeypox

    Exercise. Image credits - Victor Freitas @victorfreitas / Unsplash

    Best exercise time differs for men and women, says US study

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Bitcoin. Image credits - Onov3056

    Bitcoin slides below $20,000 to lowest level in 18 months

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Microsoft's Internet Explorer was first included with a Windows 95 upgrade pack. Image credits - Ina Fried/CNET

    End of an era: Microsoft retires Internet Explorer

    Cryptocurrency boom. Image credits - Executium @executium / Unsplash

    Cryptocurrency market value slumps under $1 trillion

    iPhone. Image credits - Tron Le @tronle_sg / Unsplash

    EU deal to force iPhones to use USB-C charger by 2024

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp to get edit button, undo messages and other features soon 

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • All
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
    Electricity

    Power cut schedule for July 5 in Sri Lanka

    Bangladesh’s exports climb to a record US$ 52bn in FY22

    Bangladesh’s exports climb to a record US$ 52bn in FY22

    Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  

    Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    Miss India: Sini Shetty was announced winner at the grand finale in Mumbai. (Image courtesy: Instagram)

    Miss India 2022 winner is Sini Shetty from Karnataka

    The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia

    The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia

    Karan Adani has a strong enterprising spirit, much like his father. Photo: @AdaniKaran/Twitter

    Meet Karan Adani, son of Asia’s richest man Gautam Adani

    Kanchana Wijsekara

    Companies in Sri Lanka can pay in dollars to receive a weekly assured fuel quota

    Schools. Image credits - Ivan Aleksic @ivalex / Unsplash

    Sri Lanka will close all schools next week due to the ongoing fuel crisis

  • World
    • All
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United Kingdom
    • United States
    Why is the UK economy suffering more than other countries?

    Why is the UK economy suffering more than other countries?

    Covid health guidelines. Image credits - Phil Hearing / Unsplash (Representational image)

    Covid: UK hospital cases set to rise, says health chief

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

    Covid-19 virus evolving to get better at becoming airborne: Report

    Nine Omicron symptoms affecting the fully vaccinated – and signs you may have it

    Gun

    Copenhagen shooting: Gunman kills three in shopping mall

    Australia scraps Covid-19 vaccine requirement for international travellers

    Australia scraps Covid-19 vaccine requirement for international travellers

    Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Queen Elizabeth and the British royal family, and Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the UAE royal family. Photos: @tamim, @RoyalFamily, @mohamedbinzayed/Instagram

    The world’s richest royal families of 2022 revealed

    Cristiano Ronaldo

    Cristiano Ronaldo tells Manchester United he wants to leave

    Libyan protesters storm, set fire to parliament building

    Libyan protesters storm, set fire to parliament building

  • Business
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
    • All
    • Books
    • Gaming
    • Movie
    • Music
    • Series
    Kamal Haasan's Vikram is on a rampage.

    Kamal Haasan’s Vikram is the highest-grossing film in Singapore, UK and UAE

    Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

    ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ celebrates 25 magical years

    Salman Khan

    Plot to kill Bollywood actor Salman Khan revealed

    Shah Rukh Khan's Jawaan, to be directed by Atlee, to scheduled for June 2023 release. (Photo: Twitter)

    Shah Rukh Khan announces new film ‘Jawaan’

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Chchutir diner Gaan by Bangladeshi singer Nondita

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    Song “Bechain Nazar Betaab Jigar”. Talat Mahmood. Film “Yasmin” 1955

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’

    ‘KGF Chapter 2’ becomes 3rd-highest-grossing Hindi film

    Popular Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt were married Thursday in a private ceremony at their Mumbai residence. Image credits - Sujit Jaswal via AFP / Getty Images

    Bollywood stars Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt marry in Mumbai

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

    Lata Mangeshkar: Ae Chand Pyara. Film Khazaana 1951. Music C.Ramchandra. Lyrics Rajinder Krishan

  • Lifestyle
    • All
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Science
    • Travel
    This April 2022 handout photograph provided by RR Auction shows cockroaches which were fed moon dust from the 1969 Apollo 11 mission, which were pulled from an auction listing after NASA said the cockroaches and a small vial of moon dust are property of the federal government. (Photo: AP)

    Give us back our moon dust and cockroaches: Nasa

    Moon. Image credits - Ganapathy Kumar / Unsplash

    China finds signs of water in moon’s ‘Ocean of Storms’

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    What we should know when we speak of food security?

    Beetroot is rich in nitrates and is loaded with health benefits. (Photo: Getty Images)

    Drinking beetroot juice daily could help people with heart condition

    Close-up view of a cancer cell. Credit: Alexey Kotelnikov / Alamy Stock Photo

    Massive breakthrough as cancer vanishes for all patients in drug trial

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    India hands over 3.3 tons of medical supplies to Lanka’s ambulance service

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    Lankan Prez orders LKR 1.8 billion (US$ 5 million) to be spent on drugs import  

    In this 1971 Center For Disease Control handout photo, monkeypox-like lesions are shown on the arm and leg of a female child in Bondua, Liberia. CDC | Getty Images

    The Covid conspiracies being recycled for monkeypox

    Exercise. Image credits - Victor Freitas @victorfreitas / Unsplash

    Best exercise time differs for men and women, says US study

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    High life in troubled Colombo  

    Trending Tags

    • Golden Globes
    • Mr. Robot
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Climate Change
    • Flat Earth
  • Tech
    Bitcoin. Image credits - Onov3056

    Bitcoin slides below $20,000 to lowest level in 18 months

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Digital banking platform Revolut launches in Sri Lanka

    Microsoft's Internet Explorer was first included with a Windows 95 upgrade pack. Image credits - Ina Fried/CNET

    End of an era: Microsoft retires Internet Explorer

    Cryptocurrency boom. Image credits - Executium @executium / Unsplash

    Cryptocurrency market value slumps under $1 trillion

    iPhone. Image credits - Tron Le @tronle_sg / Unsplash

    EU deal to force iPhones to use USB-C charger by 2024

    Whatsapp. Image credits - AARN GIRI / Unsplash

    WhatsApp to get edit button, undo messages and other features soon 

    Trending Tags

    • Sillicon Valley
    • Climate Change
    • Election Results
    • Flat Earth
    • Golden Globes
    • MotoGP 2017
    • Mr. Robot
  • Coronavirus
  • Videos
NewsIn.Asia
No Result
View All Result
Home Offbeat

Families of Lankan soldiers missing in action still hope they’ll return

Editor by Editor
March 23, 2019
in Offbeat, Recommend, Sri Lanka
Reading Time: 8 mins read
11 1
A A

Maj. Athula's mother shows his picture

28
SHARES
Share on WhatsApp

By Shanika Sriyananda/Daily FT

Boyagane, March 23: Her vision is blurry and the body is feeble but she still doesn’t want to abandon her ‘mission’ – searching for her son, ‘Sudu Putha’. Her memory of him is still vivid and fresh.

Wearing a white Kandyan saree with no jewelery, holding some lotus flowers and sitting at a corner of the decorated tent at the Boyagane Army Camp, she scanned through the soldiers in ceremonial outfits who were passing by, to see whether her son was among them.

ADVERTISEMENT

She forgets all other important days in her life but not the day that her loving son’s name was added to the long list of names of soldiers who went Missing in Action (MIA).

“He called me on 17 July 1996 and that  was his last call saying: Amma, I came to the Mullaitivu camp safely.’ I still hear his voice,” L.M. Punchimanike said sobbing.

She becomes emotional when she recalls her soldier son Corporal Chandrapala Samarasekara of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR), who died in the infamous ‘Mullaitivu debacle,’ where the entire Army camp with soldiers of the 6 VIR and the 9 Sinha Regiment (SR), was overrun by the now defunct LTTE on 18 July 1996. 1,300 soldiers were lost, the majority of them went missing in action.

A grenade attack by one of the soldiers who was in LTTE captivity resulted in the LTTE brutally killing 207 soldiers who were Prisoners of War (POWs).

Punchimanike was accompanied by two of her sons – a retired Government employee and an ex-solder of the Special Forces (SF) of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) – to pay tribute to her son Chandrapala and over 3,000 soldiers who had sacrificed their lives to bring peace and harmony after 30 years, at the War Hero Commemoration Ceremony named ‘Nihendiyawe Handa’ (Voice of Silence) at the VIR Regimental Headquarters at Boyagane, Kurunegala, recently.

Punchimanika – waiting to see her ‘sudu putha’ (fair child)

Colonel of the Regiment and the Deputy Chief of the Army Maj. Gen. Ajith Kariyakarawana, Maj. Gen. D.M.D.C.D Gunawardena, Centre Commandant of the VIR Brig. W.S Ariyasinha and a large gathering of serving officers and other ranks attended the commemoration ceremony.

“I even saw him in my dreams yesterday,” Punchimanike, a mother of 11 children, who travelled from Welimada to Kurunegala, said, weeping, unable to control her emotions.

“He came to the Naval Base at Trincomalee and we both shared the same bed. I joined my 1 SF team that went on an operation in Valachchenai in the wee hours of that day and he went to the Mullaitivu camp to report for duty. When I returned from the operation, we were instructed to go to Mullaitivu to rescue the camp that was badly attacked by the LTTE. Our group, including me, was shipped to Mullaitivu to seal off the beach front to rescue our soldiers. We confronted heavy attacks from the LTTE. We couldn’t find bodies and couldn’t rescue any of our soldiers,” Chandrapala’s younger brother, who is a retired Sergeant Major, Gamini Samarasekara recalled.

Brutal Killing Of POWs 

He said that there were some eyewitness accounts to say that the LTTE had gruesomely murdered the captured soldiers at the Mullaitivu camp, after removing their eyes and cutting their hands and legs while they were still alive.

“Some female cadres had urinated into the mouths of the badly injured soldiers who were screaming asking for water. I think that my brother may also have been subjected to torture before his death,” Samarasekara claimed.

Malani Chandralatha

According to Samarasekara, over 500 soldiers had surrendered to the LTTE during the Mullaitivu attack but no one had returned home, so far.

Punchimanike said that she was living every moment for the last 23 years thinking that the 25-year-old Chandrapala (at that time) would appear at her doorstep giggling laugh and embrace her.

“He gave me his gold chain before he left home that day asking me to pawn it if I wanted some money. When he came home on leave, he stayed with me all the time. I am waiting till my Sudu Putha comes home,” said Punchimanike, who refuses to believe that Chandrapala is dead.

Among over 5,000 guests – parents, wives, children and relatives – Kulatilake Padmakulasuriya, an 89-year-old father clad in a clean white national dress, refused to be seated until the commemoration ceremony was over.

“I stood throughout the function to pay my respects to my hero,” said the father of Major Athula Theja Kulatilake of 6 VIR, who was 27 years old at the time he went missing at the Mullaitivu debacle.

Being the only son of the family with two daughters, Kulatilake wanted him to become a lawyer like his elder sister. “But he was determined to join the Army to serve the country,” Kulatilake said.

Founder of VIR Maj.Gen. Jaliya Nammuni

The entire wall of the living room is dedicated to framed pictures of Athula in school, cricket and Army uniforms and also all his certificates, Kulatilake has a separate place to display his son’s military items like the sword given to him as a commissioned officer.

“When we see those souvenirs, we feel that our son is living with us,” Major Athula’s mother A.M. Ranmanike (82) said. The SLA had issued his death certificate but the couple is not willing to believe that their son is no more.

They were delighted to see their son’s batchmates who are now Colonels in the Army.

“If my son is alive today,” she said in a quivering voice showing a picture of Major Kulatilake in an Army ceremonial outfit.

Corporal N.M.P Wijewardena of 2 VIR is another soldier who has been declared missing following the LTTE attack on the Kondachchi Army Camp in 1990.

“My daughter was only 11 months old. He had seen her only few times. I have not received his remains and I have waited for four years expecting him to return home. But later the Army gave me a death certificate,” Malani Chandralatha said, adding that she raised her daughter alone, facing many hardships.

He was 25 years old when he went missing and her young age was sacrificed to raise their daughter, who is now employed and having a child.

No Faith In OMP

Like other parents and wives of MIAs, she had also gone before the Office of Missing Persons (OMP) to give a statement about Corporal Wijewardena. But she said she received nothing.

Although they still have hope that their children and husbands who went missing during the war will come home one day as they have not seen their remains, most relatives of the fallen soldiers have not given their details to the OMP as they lack interest or lack faith in the OMP process or lack awareness on how to report to the OMP.

Padmakulasuriya, the father of Major Kulatilake and a former Legal Assistant of the Department of Agrarian Services, said that he had no faith in the OMP as it was biased and treated the relatives of missing military personnel differently.

“Not only to the OMP but we went to the previous Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission to give details of our son. But nothing happened,” he said, adding that the OMP was more interested in getting information on MIAs in the north and east than their children who were captured and tortured to death by the LTTE.

Corporal R.M. Yamuna Bandara was 25 years old when he went missing at the LTTE attack in Elephant Pass in 2000. Although the Army has declared him as MIA, he was issued a death certificate. Now he has been enlisted under those soldiers who were Killed in Action (KIA).

Punchimanika with her two sons

“I don’t still believe he is dead. I search for him everywhere. I went to several camps but I couldn’t find him,” his mother R.M. Sumanawathi Manike (68) said.

Bandara managed to save a portion from his meagre salary to build a house of their own. Today, Manike has fulfilled his dream by building a small house from his savings of his pension, which she gets.

“No value can be put on my son. Wherever I go, I look at the faces of young men to see whether my son is among them,” she said, as tears streamed down her face.

Not Aware Of OMP

Manike is not really aware of the OMP or its benefits. Looking after her sick husband, Manika still dedicates her time to have poojas to invoke blessings for her son, Bandara.

Usually Bandara would return home on leave during late nights. “So I have kept the door open till late night for the last 19 years hoping that he would come home one day,” Manike said. She got emotional and couldn’t talk anymore.

Some say that holding war hero commemorations would hurt the close relatives and they would be further traumatised. But especially for the parents, grieving for their missing sons is a part of their daily routine. They said that they cannot overcome grief until they have breathed their last.

Maj. Gen. Ajith Kariyakarawana said that the SLA wanted to remember the fallen VIR war heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect the country’s sovereignty, as Sri Lanka is commemorating the 10th year of eliminating LTTE terrorism in the country in 2019.

He said that this mass commemoration ceremony would not be an annual feature but would be held every three years to venerate the fallen VIR soldiers for their bravery.

“In 1996, the entire 6 VIR battalion got killed or captured by the LTTE at the Mullaitivu debacle. Over 580 went missing and later they have been declared as KIAs,” he said.

Spelling out welfare programs, he said that there are scholarships for school-going children It is the responsibility of the regiment to look after the close relatives of fallen VIR heroes who sacrificed their future for the country’s peace and harmony.

VIR war memorial

VIR Fired Last Bullet To End War 

“The VIR is the regiment that fought on the last day of the final battle and used the last bullet to kill LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to end the 30-year-long war.

“The VIR is the most junior regiment in the Sri Lamkan Army  but we have proved our mettle and professionalism in warfare. The VIR has been awarded two Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (Decoration of Supreme Heroism) awards and over 3,000 other gallantry awards,” he said.

VIR Founder, Maj. Gen. Jaliya Nammuni, commending the SLA for commemorating the fallen VIR soldiers said that the regiment was credited for its heroism and contribution to ending the war.

During the JVP’s second insurrection, the then Army Commander Maj. Gen. Hamilton Wanasinghe had instructed Lt. Col. Nammuni to form a new battalion with a strength of 800 soldiers.

“I felt it was no easy task as I had to form the battalion within a month. I and another senior officer, who was enlisted to support me, had to recruit and train 800 soldiers. We asked 16 infantry battalions to give us soldiers to form the new battalion,” Maj. Gen. Nammuni recalled.

The Vijayabahu battalion, which was named after King Vijayabahu I of Polonnaruwa, was first deployed to control JVP activities in the South. The soldiers in the new battalion, who were deployed for the task even before their passing out ceremony, had assisted in controlling JVP violence successfully.

Maj. Gen. Nammuni, who later became the regimental Colonel of the VIR, which was officially formed in 1990, said that it had fought well and professionally until the Government ended terrorism in May 2009.

“The regiment, which was set up from scratch, has performed well and they are par with other regiments today,” he said.

 Over 3,488 SLA soldiers including 125 officers missing

The VIR has lost 132 officers and 2,268 soldiers from other ranks in the military thrust against the LTTE since the formation of the regiment. Although a low number of MIA cases from the SLA have been reported to the OMP, 3,488 soldiers including 125 officers had gone missing during heavy fighting between the SLA and the LTTE.

Military Spokesman Brig. Sumith Atapattu said that although most of the MIAs had been declared as KIAs later for administrative purposes, they had been tortured to death by the LTTE who kept them as POWs.

He said that there were some records that the LTTE had kept some of the missing soldiers as POWs even until the last phase of the war. Later the LTTE had killed them.

“For example, the CO of the 9 Sinha Regiment Battalion Major Hiran Dabarahewa, who was a POW of the Mullaitivu debacle, was killed by the LTTE after some years,” he said.

According to Brig. Atapattu, the Army encourages close relatives of the MIAs to report to the OMP.

“After four years of being MIAs, those soldiers were declared as KIAs for administrative purposes to facilitate the close relatives to obtain death certificates to get the benefits given to fallen soldiers. Later, the four-year period had changed and those who went missing during the final phases of the war were declared as KIAs after a year of being missing,  he said.

However, the relatives of those MIAs were reluctant to report to the OMP as their missing sons and husbands have been declared as KIAs and possessing death certificates now.

“This has resulted in a low representation by the Army to the OMP,” Atapattu said.

“We are old now and weary of going from one commission to another. The Government should look into the plight of ageing parents like us who are desperately waiting to see our children before we die,” Kulatilake, Major Athula’s father, said.

(The featured image at the top shows Maj. Athula’s mother showing his picture to the officers of VIR)

Related Posts

Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  
Bangladesh

Shipping professionals discuss connectivity between Colombo and Chattogram in Bangladesh  

July 4, 2022
US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  
Diplomacy

US bid to rope Sri Lanka into Quad using economic crisis  

July 4, 2022
The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia
Bangladesh

The economic aspect of foreign relations in South Asia

July 4, 2022
Kanchana Wijsekara
Around South Asia

Companies in Sri Lanka can pay in dollars to receive a weekly assured fuel quota

July 3, 2022
Schools. Image credits - Ivan Aleksic @ivalex / Unsplash
Around South Asia

Sri Lanka will close all schools next week due to the ongoing fuel crisis

July 3, 2022
ICO Fuel Station
Around South Asia

Lanka IOC dispatches fuel for 92 sheds

July 3, 2022
  • Electricity

    Power cut schedule for July 5 in Sri Lanka

    44787 shares
    Share 17930 Tweet 11190
  • Foreign Exchange Rates from Central Bank of Sri Lanka; USD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CAD

    1185 shares
    Share 481 Tweet 294
  • WATCH : Yohani’s first live performance in India

    784 shares
    Share 326 Tweet 191
  • Power interruption schedule released: Check your area power cut time

    736 shares
    Share 314 Tweet 176
  • Leader of Bohra community meets President

    668 shares
    Share 271 Tweet 165
  • About Us
  • Advertisements
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact

© 2022 All rights reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Around South Asia
    • Afghanistan
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • China
    • India
    • Maldives
    • Myanmar
    • Nepal
    • Pakistan
    • Sri Lanka
  • Around The World
  • Breaking News
  • Business
    • Exchange
  • Climate Change
  • Governance
    • Crime
    • Diplomacy
    • Defense
    • Human Rights
    • Politics
    • Strategic Affairs
  • Lifestyle
    • Books
    • Entertainment
      • Arts
      • Cinema
      • Gaming
      • Music
      • Movie
      • Series
      • TV
    • Health
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
  • Culture
    • Ethnicity
    • Gender
  • Development news
  • Economy
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Coronavirus
  • History
  • National
  • Offbeat
    • Media
    • Music and arts across South Asia
  • Recommended
    • Headlines
    • Highlights
    • Top Picture
    • Top Story
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Cricket
      • LPL
      • IPL
    • Tennis
    • Formula 1
    • NBA
  • Tech
    • Instagram
  • United Nations
  • Weather
  • World
    • Japan
    • Russia
    • United States
  • Videos

© 2022 All rights reserved.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

mersin eskort -

Meritroyalbet

-
Jojobet
- Süperbetin - eskisehir escort -

https://www.vudols.com/

- Sağlık Personeli - istanbul avukat