Page 18 - cover

16 ;sia y;a jk l,dmh
As young officers, we both worked together Mannar to Murunkan or from Murunkan to
in Mannar. I was the Officer-in-Charge of an Madawachchiya/Anuradhapura. Whether he
isolated naval detachment in Thalaimannar, and is training his gun crews in Thalladi or doing
he served in the Brigade Headquarters in Talladi, convey duties, he used to wear his uniforms
Mannar. We used to have security meetings every very smartly. His boots were always “spit and
fortnight at the Brigade Headquarters headed by polished” and shining like a mirror. His men
our boss at that time, Brigadier Daya Wijesekara. were very fond of him. He always trained his
As the land route from Talimannar to Mannar was men to be professionally very competent. He
not secure, I used to travel by a speedboat. The was an exemplary military leader to his men.
meeting was usually held on Saturdays. After the
One of these days Bhathiya will come
meeting my Arty friends, Bhathiya, Roshan, Athula,
to my detachment on a holiday. He enjoyed
Bandula (Logistician) and CLI friend (Trinitian)
driving his open jeep in Mannar roads. I used
Chandana will approach Brigadier Daya and get
to take him to Sand Banks off Talimannar. We
permission for me to return to Talaimannar on
leave after sunset in our boats and camp out in
Sunday. Brigadier Daya handed over the Brigade
the Sand Bank for the night. On a moonlit night,
to then Brigadier Srilal Weerasooriya (who later
while drinking Rockland Lemon gin with fresh
became the Army Commander and our High
lime soda, (we used to get four bottles of local
Commissioner in Pakistan). We worked very hard
hard liquor per month on duty-free rate. At that
as young officers and seniors were very fond of
time the most preferred brand was Rockland
us.
Lemon Gin), eating deep-fried jumbo prawns,
So, the evening party on Saturday will sitting on the edge of the sandbank with feet in
start at eight ‘o’ clock after strong warnings from sea water, and he will start advising me on the
our Battery Commander (BC) at that time Major importance of a married life, which was Greek
Thibbatumunuwa (rose to Major General rank to me those young days. Not like us, he had a
later), Major Nissanka Wijesinghe (rose to Major clear vision and wanted to live a long and a
General rank and appointed as the Chief of Staff of happy married life.
the Army), Major VR Silva (rose to Major General
As he got married to Shashi, who
rank later) and Major Mahesh Samaraweera (rose
was his school time sweetheart and relative,
to Major General rank later) not to drink too
the daughter of Army Commander General
much and not to break glasses. However, after
Hamilton Wanasinghe, VSV, USP, ndc (who later
convincing them of good behaviour, the party
became CDS and Defence Secretary), he never
starts and Old Arrack and beer will flow till late
used this connection to be away from War. Few
into the night.
days after his wedding, he went back to the War
Those were the good days that we had in front. He was always brave and patriotic.
1985/86 in Mannar. The only soft spot of Bhathiya
Bhathiya and Sashi had two lovely
had been his sweetheart Sashi, a Vishakian from
daughters, Druveesh and Sachini. Much later in
school time. He will speak for hours explaining
service, when I ask about his two daughters, his
how beautiful she is and his future plans for their
eyes used to light up and used to say “I am their
married life. When we were fighting LTTE and
hero”. Bhathiya paid supreme sacrifice during
merrymaking in the Officers Mess in our free time
the Elephant Pass battle on 22nd April 2000.
and not very serious about our future, he had
plans for his future and wanted to live a happy life. I was not able to attend his funeral as I
was involved in a special mission in the Eastern
Bhathiya was a prolific reader of Military
area and I asked my wife Yamuna to attend.
History. He used to learn about Artillery units of
There were two funerals of distinguished
other Armies. He trained his gun crews very well.
Royalists who had made the supreme sacrifice
Apart from looking after guns, he was given an
on the same day at the Borella general cemetery.
additional task to escort Mannar-Anuradhapura
They are; Major General Percy Fernando of the
logistic convoys, which he loved to, perform despite
Commando Regiment and Brigadier Bhathiya
enemy landmine threat. He always volunteered to
Jayathilake of the Artillery Regiment. Both
escort convoy in one of the two legs, either from