The memories of 35 years will never fade away from 79 batch mates of the Army Intake 21, who represent the comradeship over the years, since June 6, 1985 and committed for a selfless service to the nation, sacrificing the youth to safeguard the motherland. It was a journey through critical challenges under tough conditions in the military.
Terrorism was getting intensified, after black July 1983 and security control too in the country, especially in the North and the East, was moving out of control from the authorities. Hence the need to strengthen the defence forces was a priority.
We were the 1st Intake of the Army, which crossed 50 Officer Cadets in a single batch to cater for the demand through a rigorous interview process, finally with a Board comprising the Secretary of Defence and then Commander of the Army.
There were thousands of applicants initially and ended up with 79 Officer Cadets, enlisted incidentally from Colombo, Kandy, Galle, Matara, Kurunegala, Bandarawela and Kegalle Schools.
They were mainly from Royal College, Ananda, Nalanda, St Thomas’, St Joseph’s, Prince of Wales, De La salle, Trinity, Dharmaraja, Vidyartha, St Anthony’s, Richmond, Mahinda, Maliyadeva, St Anne’s, Rahula, Bandarawela Central and St Mary’s – Kegalle. The majority were Sri Lanka Schools Coloursmen in athletics, soccer, basketball and cricket. Some of them were senior school cadets who held ranks in National Cadet Corps.
Having completed training at the Military Academy – Diyathalawa, 60 of us were selected for training in Pakistan for one year on a Government-to-Government defence agreement. The program covered conventional and counter terrorism warfare under Pakistani Army Instructors.
Our gratitude is offered to Course Officer Major General ( Rtd) Lalith Wijetunge and Course Sargent Warrant Officer Seneviratne Banda and two Pakistani Instructors: Late Brigadier (Rtd) Zafarullah Khan and Lt Colonel (Rtd) Shaheed Iqbal Waraich for molding us to be what we are today.
We could follow the Officer Weapons and Junior Officers’ Leadership course and Method of Instructions Course in Infantry School – Quetta, Pakistan for six months.
Having returned to Sri Lanka, prior to joining the Regiments,a Counter Revolutionary Warfare Course was fallowed through knowledge transferring sessions of local and foreign instructors.
The majority was posted to Infantry Regiments and the rest joined the Teeth Arms, Support and Service Regiments in the height of war. Our Batch mates fought throughout their service from 1986 to 2009 for 23 years.
The nation would always salute the 12 batch mates who made the supreme sacrifice in the 35 years of history. This is the highest number of officers killed in action in a single Intake of any service in Sri Lanka. Those unsung heroes are Captain Asela Dahanayake, Captain Namal Mendis, Major Thuwan Ahamath Pakeer, Major Deepal Waduge, Major Panduka Wanasinghe, Captain Buddhika Alakawala, Captain Shamendra Ranasinghe, Lt Col Dheera Liyanage, Lt Col Jayantha Suraweera and Lt Col Susantha Punchihewa. Major Sumith Kaluarachchi and Major Jagath Prasanna Warnakula died after their retirement.
Over 15 batch mates were wounded in action and awarded “Deshaputhra” Medal and other bravery medals. Major General Rajitha Ampemohotti, Major General Rajeewa Wickramasinghe and Major Modestus Fernando became physically handicapped in the battle.
Rajiva represented Sri Lanka in Archery at Para Olympics and Rajitha represented international games in wheel Chair racing. Maj General Ralf Nugera, Maj Gen Manoj Mudannayake, Maj Gen Rohitha Dharmasiri and Maj Gen Mahinda Mudalige, Maj Gen Gamini Vidyananda, Col Lal Wijegunawardana, Maj Dhammika Balasuriya and Col Sujeewa Gunawardana were critically injured in the battle.
The Intake 21 produced record 17 Major Generals. Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army Major General Rasika Namal Fernando holds the highest appointment among the batch mates.
The Intake 21 had a Military Secretary, four Security Force Commanders, Volunteer Force Commander, Principal Staff Officers, Logistic Commanders, GOCs, Directors and many key appointments in the Army.