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;sia y;a jk l,dmh 17

paid supreme sacrifice Rathmalana to Palali Air Base in Jaffna and transport
during the Elephant military personnel going on leave from Palali to
Pass battle. Rathmalana. He knew the importance of his task
and always ensured that every one waiting to go
My wife who
on leave, some after three months would be taken
is considered as a
care of. His job started at sunrise from Rathmalana
“strong” lady in the
and used to do three or four shuttles, Rathmalana to
military circles cried
Palali and back till sunset.
for days recollecting
how Bhathiya’s two There had been a number of incidents
daughters wept during where brave Air Force pilots were victims of LTTE
the funeral. She says no child should ever go shoulder- fired Surface to Air missile attacks at
through such an agony in their life. that time, but Thibba and his brother pilots never
stopped maintaining the vital air link to the Jaffna
We were invited to the weddings of
peninsula by air.
both the daughters of Bhathiya last year. We
saw the void Bhathiya has created to his loving There were no secure road links from the
wife and two daughters with his untimely South and sea transport was difficult and time-
demise. Pictures of young Bhathiya with consuming. Sometimes it would take two days of
Shashi and daughters were flashed during sea passage from Trincomalee to KKS. So flying even
both the Weddings as a tribute to him. He under missile threat was the only viable option to
sacrificed his life for the betterment of all the transfer battle casualties from Jaffna to Colombo
Sri Lankan children. And we shall never forget for immediate medical care. Thibba was exposed
him, Brigadier Bhathiya Jayathilake, RWP, RSP, to enemy missile threats at least six times per day
IG, our Royal College Cadet Platoon buddy. when landing or taking off his transport aircraft at
the Palali airbase. Hundreds of brave soldiers who
were severely injured during enemy confrontations
were saved, thanks to Thibba. Whether, there is a
seat or not in the aircraft, he never left me at Palali
and had even taken me in the cockpit a couple of
times. He was such a nice person and a true friend
in uniform.

When I was in the SBS in 90s and flying from
one place to another, more frequently to Colombo
from Jaffna and back for important meetings/
Thibba briefings and debriefings at the Naval Headquarters,
Thibba used to tease me by saying I am gaining
Squadron Leader Thejananda
more flying hours than him as the SBS Commanding
Thibbotumunuwe, RWP was an Air Force
Officer. That is Thibba. A Jovial fellow, who had no
transport pilot, and we used to call him as
fear of the constant threat posed by the imminent
“Thibba”. He was a distinguished old boy of
enemy missile fire.
Ananda College, Colombo and followed his
elder brother’s footsteps and joined the Armed I was once taking the last flight from Palali to
Forces (his elder brother was in the Army and attend my son’s birthday. Knowing the importance
I have served under him in Mannar). of my presence with my son and family that
evening, to my surprise, a SLAF Jeep was waiting
You will never forget Thibba’s face. He
for me to travel to my home from Rathmalana when
was chubby, round faced and always with an
we landed at the Rathmalana Air Base late on that
evergreen smile. Thibba was a great transport
evening. Thibba had arranged it in consultation with
pilot who usually flew AN-32 or Y8 transport
the SLAF Base Commander Rathmalana. That’s how
aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force. His main
Thibba showed that he cared for his friends. A true
job was to carry troops and supplies from
friend understands family values!