On a day like this, 35 years ago there was a call for brave patriotic youth to come forward for safeguarding the nation. For this call there were 1039 applicants. On January, 18 1985, after a series of six interviews, young blood from leading schools who excelled in sports and extracurricular activities at college and national level were selected.
It is a unique achievement and indeed an honour for the finally selected 35 of them to gather at Army Headquarters. After saying goodbye to our loved ones, and we literally took our first steps to embark on our chosen career we knew what the future would be. It was not going to be a bed of roses, but someone had to take on this challenge. Indeed, all 35 candidates who were selected were denied of prospect of cushy, white collar jobs in air-conditioned offices, they answered this call from their hearts.
These 35 smart young prospective officers were seated in an Army bus while their baggage / trunks were loaded into an Army 1210 TATA truck, and left Army HQ by 1730hrs heading to Army Garrison Diyatalawa. It was around 0110hrs of early morning of the19th, when our journey came to an abrupt halt near the Polo Grounds of Diyatalawa, which is the one and only naturally built grounds in Sri Lanka.
We were asked to get off the bus, as the engine was over heated and boiling, and we were informed by Staff Sgt Dharmasena of the Artillery Regiment and Sgt Piyasdasa of Gemunu Watch to get off the bus as it would not be going any further.
Bus
To our surprise the bus as well as the truck could not be started. We naturally assumed that it may have been due to continuously driving without rest for over six hours. Even though we were dressed in full suits, as we got down from the bus the freezing cool climate of 6-7o C virtually froze us in our tracks.
No sooner we alighted the bus we were asked to run to a place called Pandama, which is a unique symbol of the military academy, where a burning torch is placed on a lamppost. This eternal flame symbolises life, dedication and regenerative power.
Makara Thorana
By the time we were running through the military academy main gate all of us were shivering and had aglimpses of the parade ground, and the ground was covered in dew, shining in crystal white. Beyond the ground we saw a huge Makara Thorana (Dragon Arch), the only dream of passed out young officers march through it. Just as we reached the Pandama the bus and the truck which were supposedly stalled also had arrived to the same spot! It was only when we were asked to unload our baggage that we realised that there was nothing wrong with the vehicles and they only wanted us to enter the military academy on the double which was a long established tradition.
The full moon was shining brightly on a clear sky as it’s a Poya day, and we could see the surrounding area more clearly. We were taken to a place called Beast Billet, which was to be our “home” and our sleeping arrangements were shown. There was a smart Warrant Officer and showing us the green bushes and grass area, in a commanding voice announced that he would expect us to clean and have it nicely arranged in the day time as being a Poya day he didn’t want to see any reptiles on the ground, and then asked us to go to sleep.
The next morning after our breakfast we were asked to get into our PT kit, and Sgt Piyadasa took us to Army Q stores and drew us tools such as mamoties, knives, grass cutters etc. to clean the grass and shrub area. Later in the evening the same WO addressed us to be ready in our full suit as he is to take us on our camp tour next morning
This Warrant Officer1 was Chandra Abeykoon, who had just returned from the prestigious military college Sandhurst in the UK. His boots were polished to such a shiny finish one could literally use them as a mirror and his uniform was impeccable.
Ali Kakula
Next morning, we were dressed in blazers and full suits and taken to Army Q stores and were issued with various items, such as mess tin, water bottle, cup and plate, ground sheet, boots, canvas shoes, blankets, beret, etc. and we were asked to put all these Army issues into a gunny bag like thing called a Ali Kakula, as the bag resembled the leg of an elephant. We were then taken on our camp tour.
We were accompanied by WO Abeykoon, Staff Sgt Dharmasena, Sgt Piyadasa, Sgt Wijeratne and PTI Cpl Mendis, showing us the boundaries of the military academy and out of bounds area, recreational grounds, cinema hall, polo grounds, Halangoda Lake, White gate ( a small white gate placed in a hill top of the polo grounds, where the entrance to the Officers’ Mess of Gemunu Watch). The entire tour was done on double, and that was our mode of transport for the next 6 months, - no walking. Everywhere we went we had to go on doubling, sometimes in forward roll, (a Hybrid vehicle) Our chief instructor was Major Nihal Marambe of the Armored Corps and our 1st Course Commander was Major Gamini Balasuriya of the Armored Corps, and later Capt Rohan Induruwa from the Singh Regiment,
Our billet was called Beast Billet, as the name implies, we were like beasts, with no relaxing and we were always on the move, one after the other. Our only consolation was to receive a letter from loved ones. From Beast Billet we could see three railway stations clearly at night if there were no mist, those were Iddalgahinna, Haputale and Diyatalawa.
We often imagined that we were seated inside the train and going on vacation, even assuming that a few were crying too! We were waiting to hear the sound of the train approaching through hills of Idalgashinna. We could see it like a set of box of matches moving slowly early in the morning when we getting ready to go on PT, and we knew that our letters will be there by afternoon, and in the same way our letters would be carried in the night mail train leaving Diyatalawa every evening at 1940hrs.
It was a part of the Duty of Cadet’s list of duties to collect the daily mail from the office and also to hand over any mail that was to be posted. All of us were delighted to receive a letter or two from loved ones. While those of us who got mail were rejuvenated, the few who didn’t get any mail were disappointed and even dejected. Getting mail was one of the few joys of life we enjoyed at that time.
Civilian
We were taken for physical training, marching practices, weapon training, map reading, field craft, and tactics during morning sessions. In the afternoon session we studied leadership, military law, current affairs and English. We were taught Tamil by a civilian teacher from Bandarawela. He was the only civilian teacher we had and all of us were very relaxed and enjoyed his lessons as well as recreational facilities and games we had in the evening. During the next few weeks, we were transformed from fresh youth-hood and moulded into tough military personnel as we were ready for any uncertainty. We never looked at our bed nor dreamt about a good cosy sleep under misty breezy conditions of Diyatalawa, because we never knew what will be happening at the next moment. No two nights were the same but soon we were well prepared and mastered to deal with all uncertainties. Sometimes we were even ostracised and mocked.
We were blessed with our 1st day out after 6 months on passing the drill test and PT tests. We had to do several changing parades in front of Senior Intake 18A and later with Intake 19, before we could go out. They checked our attire, blazer, shirt, tie, belt trouser shoes, socks should have to match with each other, and we had to have a proper shave and generally be well groomed. We all flew to Bandarawela Town like pigeons let out from their cages. Some were at Restaurants, some went to tailor shops and few went to Cyril Studio for a photo shoot. Taking telephone calls to loved ones from Bandarawela Post Office one after the other, as in those days there were no mobile phones, needless to mention about Whats App, Viber, Facebook, twitter, Instagram as those words we have never heard nor in our vocabulary. Wherever we went we had to watch our steps and go in pairs, because we never knew who would report our wrong doings to SLMA as everyone in town knew where we came from and what our future mission was. Soon, to our great delight we got sharing rooms and also our 1st vacation of seven days after passing the drill test and PT test. However during this vacation each of us were assigned with a task of finding details and materials for our presentations of leading political, military, and famous figures. We were expected to be ready with view files, photographs, scriptures, slides, and booklets. We had to do much research and dwell into endless pages to find all these details as there was no Google those days. It was a nightmare to prepare and present them to officers, in a series of repeated sessions till the midnight. But those were really invaluable later in our lives
Our senior Intake 19 passed out in November 1985 and we became the senior Intake now. We were assigned individual rooms. There were Lady Intake 3, SSC (Short Service Commission) Intake 5,6,7,8 with Intake 22 & 23 time to time. There were 7 Service Cadets from KDA after completing their three and half years of university degree cum military training joined us for their final term, by that time Intake 20 were under the watchful eyes of new Course Commander Capt. Jayavi Fernando from the Gajaba Regiment, an amazing military hero who has achieved many firsts in his career.Looking through the mirror of history, he has always placed his great talents at the service of his organisation whenever there was call to duty. He never dodged a responsibility, never refused to take on a hard job if it needed to be done. What he believed, he believed with heart and soul. In very brief, he is a patriotic Sri Lankan, distinguished military officer, a great leader, an affectionate brother to all servicemen and was loved by all his superiors, peers, and subordinates. His premature retirement as Colonel was a great blow to the Army.
Songs
We were taken to firing at firing range on various occasions including night firing as it had been a part and parcel of our training. During our truck trips to the firing range and at the Cadets’ Mess after dinner we used to sing songs like Ae Neela Wara Peerala by Dhanapala Udawatte and Thiline Lesin by three sisters and Asoka Mal by M.S. Fernando were the most popular songs.
We were taken on field exercises to famous Fox Hill for Seetha Sulang, grave Digger at Guruthalawa, Ambewela for Frozen Trout living in trenches for six days with leeches and misty drizzling unpredictable weather continuously. Then Ex Wanabambara was marched inside thick jungles off Wellawaya for 14 days. Then Ex God King down Kataragama. Ex Scorpion enforcing curfew in Welimada/Kappettipola area to search for insurgents.
For the Parents Day our parents were invited in February for a full day program to witness their sons being moulded to military life.
With lot of endurance and enthusiasm three times we ran nine miles with 20 Kgs of backpack and weapon from Bandarawela/Welimada Road Bridge, passing Bandarawela town, Kahagolla and CVF camp to the Army Gym.
Intake for the 20 Boxing Meet was held on April 11, 1986, at the ATC Gymnasium. We were grouped according to our weight and had the tournament. It is not a friendly Charlie Charlie game, and we were told to get blood out of our opponent, that’s it………... The Rest is history. All Officer Instructors of SLMA Capt. Rohan Jayasinghe, Capt Jagath Rambukpotha, Capt. Aruna Wijenayake, Lt. Mahesh Senanayake, were there to judge the tournament and Commandant Col. Rohan de S Daluwatte was the Chief Guest.
On Vesak Poya Day, after dinner some trainee teachers of Bandarawela performed Bhakthi Gee for us at SLAM Cadets’ Mess. Once they left few of us asked permission from Course Officer to go out to see Vesak decorations. Instead of going out all Intake were asked to go round the Cadets’ Mess singing Bhakthi Gee, and it went on for 3-4 hours nonstop as we were going round and signing. After that no one asked to go out to see Vesak celebrations.
In May we were taken on Unit visits. We all were stationed at KDA for 8 days during this period we visited all units’ HQs in Colombo and Panagoda. Once we came back we were given Motor cycle riding lessons at Polo grounds. In the mornings we were preparing for the Passing Out Parade to be held on May 31.
After Intake 16 we were so honoured to have an Under Officer from our Intake. That was Wipula Seneviratne, as he came first in order of merit. For our Passing Out Parade (POP) Gen. Dennis Perera came as the Chief Guest, the first Commandant of Army Training Center and former Army Commander.
After Commissioning as 2nd Lieutenants, we were taken to Maduru Oya for further Infantry Training course and then returned to our respective units.
Sandhurst
First two of our batch mates were selected to go to Sandhurst in UK for further training they were Second Lt. Wipula Seneviratne and Second Lt. Prasanna Perera It was a unique achievement for the Intake as Officers of Sri Lanka Army went to Sandhurst after a lapse of many years.
During this time, all our batch mates were fully engaged in National duty either in the North or the East. With deep sorrow and highest gratitude, we recall the names of our loved batch mates who made the supreme sacrifice in defending our Mother Lanka for future generations.
They were Lt. Sanath Samarakoon GW (27/08/1986 Nillaweli), Lt. Ananda de Silva SLA (07/10/1987 Mannar), Capt. Wipila Senevirathne SLA (15/04/1988) Athurugiriya), Maj. Prasanna Liyanagoda VIR (30/07/1990 Mannar), Maj Devamiththa Dissanayake GW (01/05/1991 Trincomalee), Lt. Col. B.C.K.L. Silva SLLI (13/09/1995 Plane Crash/Kandana), Lt. Col. Shantha Jayaweera SLLI (17/11/1995 Jaffna) Maj. Srinath Wickramasinghe SLLI (26/12/2007 Tsunami/Thelwatte), - Maj. Ravi Dissanayake SLASC (20/07/2018 Mil Hospital).
When we look back, we could say that we have marched through hills and valleys under extreme difficult conditions with utmost dedication and commitment.
Our Maj. Gen. Rohana Bandara represented SL Army Rugby for several years in pivotal No 8 position with great repute and was the Commander- Task Force 2 during the final Vanni Liberation.One of the Galant Infantry Officers Maj. Gen. Dushantha Rajaguru was the Commandant of prestigious Sri Lanka Army Military Academy (2014-16), it was another great appointment held by our batch mate.
Another batch mate Maj. Gen. Nirmal Dharmaratne, an officer with wonderful temperament enjoyed a splendid reputation as a “Daredevil Skydiver”, with well over 200 para jumps under his belt. He deserves the Nation’s salute for his crucial role during the victorious Humanitarian operation as the Commander of the elite Special Forces. Its indeed a great honour for Intake 20.
When Gen. Hamilton Wanasinghe was appointed as Joint Operation Commander in 1996 and later, he elevated as the Secretary of Defense he selected one of the talented and capable Gunnery Officers Maj. Gavesh Ginige as his ADC from our Intake.
Academics
Few of our gallant warrior batch mates were awarded with WWP RWP RSP USP VSV for their Loyal, dedicated, committed, selfless brave deeds and unblemished service in war front as well as for their academics they were bestowed with USAWC ndcpscndu Lsc and HDMC
With immense sacrifice and highest integrity and unblemished repute to the Army our loved batch mates were appointed to top Military appointments such as Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Jagath Gunawardane, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Nirmal Dharmaratne, Security Forces Commander Wanni Maj. Gen. Dushantha Rajaguru, Security Forces Commander Central Maj. Gen. Nishshanka Ranawana, Security Forces Commander East Maj. Gen. Dhammika Pananwela, Chief Signals Officer Maj. Gen. Renuka Rowel (present Director of Centre for Research and Development-CRD), Maj. Gen. Rohana Bandara, Director General Sports, presently he is the Director of Sports at Army Sports Complex Diyagama, Col.
Commandant and Chief Signal Officer Ajith Wijesinghe, Director Infantry Maj. Gen. Duminda Kappetiwalana, Director Ranaviru Authority Maj. Gen. Priyantha Napagoda, Judge Advocate Maj. Gen. Ranjith Rajapathirana, Maj. Gen. Lal Padmakumara as Director Budget and Finance, Maj. Gen Shantha Liyanage Col. Commandant Service Corps and Commandant Army Logistics School, Maj. Gen. Indrajith Peramunagamage Commander Forward Maintenance Area - Jaffna, Maj. Gen. Ranula Rajakaruna Colonel Commandant Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Brig Mahesh Perera Centre Commandant Corps of Engineering Services and Brig. Jaliya Jayasekera Director Training Civil Defense Force.
All of them are retired at present and now holding various appointments in civil establishments after doing their great services to the Nation with utmost pride and velour. Most of them are residing in Sri Lanka and few have gone to foreign soil seeking greener pastures.
They are few Chairmen, Managing Directors, Directors, Financial Consultants, Civil Engineers, Judicial Officers, Academics, Landed proprietors, Politicians. But still they are well connected with each other and reminiscing good old nostalgic memories whenever they meet at gatherings.
Few of our batch mates opted an early retirement are, Lt. Col. Kelum Fernando, Lt. Col. Palitha Sirimal, Lt. Col. Bhathiya Weerasekara, Maj. Prasanna Perera, Maj. Saliya Weerakkody, Maj. Kumara Senarath, Maj. Viraja Leelaratne, Maj. Aruna Withanage Maj. Sunanda Mendis, Maj. Ranjith Samarasinghe, Capt. Lanka Illukkumbura, Capt. Priyantha Nanayakkara. Lt. Lalith Rupasinghe, Lt. Asela Unannthenna. Not forgetting an officer with a big heart is Maj. Gavesh Ginige, (Chairman of a leading Security Company) who leads our Entertainment Command Center for all gatherings and bonding all of us as one family. Gavesh’s commitment, brotherhood and comradeship is highly appreciated by all.
As the Intake 20 celebrate their 35th anniversary as Commissioned officers let me salute all our dear batch mates who have laid down their precious lives for our future generations. May your journey in Samsara be short, May you all finally attain Supreme bliss of Nibbana and Rest in Peace eternally.
Bravo Intake 20!