Looking back at Sri Lanka’s war history, there are a number of veterans who made the supreme sacrifice and became disabled in action in their fight to liberate the motherland from the LTTE’s brutal terrorism that whipped the country for nearly three decades.
One thousand one hundred and sixty combatants of the Navy sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty, unity and the territorial integrity of Mother Lanka and the ruthlessness of the battle against terrorism had left 517 Naval personnel disabled.
It is the duty of all of us to commemorate the great sacrifices made by those Naval veterans who made enormous sacrifices for a better tomorrow.
Tribute
Making a fitting tribute to a naval war hero who made the final sacrifice for the nation and also who was known to be an exceptional sportsman in the Sri Lanka Navy, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne opened the Navy’s new indoor sports complex named after late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera.
The opening ceremony of the facility held at Welisara Naval Complex on June, 23, 2021 was also attended by Sudarshani Samaraweera - the beloved wife of late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera.
The physical and mental development can be achieved very productively through sports.
The agility, patience and mental concentration that can be gained by mastering a sport as a naval person is a great boost to one’s career.
Construction work this Indoor Sports Complex commenced on March 18, 2020, when the incumbent Commander of the Navy was then Chief of Staff who played a prominent role, aiming to promote sports in the Navy and improve sports-related infrastructure to hone the sporting skills of the Navy athletes.
The sports complex is equipped with all the facilities mandatory for Volleyball, Basketball, Badminton, Netball as well as Karate, Judo, Taekwondo, Wrestling, Wushu and Kabaddi.
Capacity
It also encompasses amenities and has the seating capacity for a large number of spectators at a time.
The late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera has left an indelible print in the annals of the Sri Lanka Navy as a brave war hero who sacrificed his life in a decisive sea battle against an LTTE suicide attack.
Apart from being a fearless fighter, he was in a league of his own when it came to Naval Rugby with full of professionalism and determined leadership.
The idealistic initiative of Commander of the Navy to name this Indoor Sports Complex in Welisara as the Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex was indeed a deserved tribute not only to the late Commander but also to every other fallen war hero who risked their life and limb for a noble cause.
August, 23, 1958 was indeed an unforgettable day for A. R. M. Samaraweera and Lakshmi Abeygunasekara, as they were blessed with their second child, Parakrama Samaraweera.
His parents may have never felt that their son, Parakrama, would one fine day go in the annals of this country and the victorious Sri Lanka Navy as a brave son.
Pupil
His alma mater, Kingswood College soon started to recognise young Parakrama as a pupil who excelled both in studies and sports alike.
He represented the college in cricket, basketball, hockey, soccer, athletics, and went on to captain the school rugby team.
Fulfilling a childhood dream of serving the nation with integrity, he joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet of the 8th Intake on October 1, 1979.
He underwent his Cadet training at the Naval and Maritime Academy – the premier training establishment of Sri Lanka Navy and was later commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant.
He also won the Sword of Honour at the commissioning ceremony, having being adjudged as the most out- standing Officer Cadet of the intake.
As a young and energetic officer in the Sri Lanka Navy, he was exposed to specialised training in India and Pakistan where he gained ample experiences to become a prospective officer.
Parakrama Samaraweera made a great effort to take the Navy to the pinnacle of sports and he was able to master the sporting skills he exhibited during his school days in the Navy.
Rugby
Ultimately, his innate sporting prowess and energy led him to lead the Navy rugby team and won Sri Lanka Navy colours for rugby football, in recognition of incomparable talents he manifested in the rugby field.
In 1985 he tied the knot with Sudarshani Samaraweera and they were blessed with two sons, Samitha and Bhathiya who are currently serving in the Sri Lanka Navy in Medical and Logistics branches, as Lieutenant Commanders.
He took over the Command of SLNS Ranaviru, a Shanghai River Class Fast Gunboat, in January 1996, a time period that witnessed heightened enemy activities both on land and at sea.
The enemy attack on the Mullaithivu Army Complex on July, 18, 1996 was decisive as the enemy managed to infiltrate into the base, which led to the tumbling of the entire complex.
Lieutenant Commander Samaraweera’s Fast Gun Boat was tasked to protect the sea convoy that had reached off Mullaithivu.
Leadership
By mid-day on the 19th, SLNS Ranaviru, under the able leadership of Lieutenant Commander Samaraweera, provided naval gunfire support from the southern flank off Alampil seas for troops to be disembarked at the beach.
As the landing was not sensible, orders were given to withdraw.
However, under the gallant leadership of Lieutenant Commander Samaraweera, his brave men fought alongside him fearlessly to protect the ships carrying troops until they cleared the critical area.
As the fighting escalated into a pitched battle, his gun boat was hit by a suicide craft and the control of the ship’s steering was lost.
The attack left a large number of sailors on board, wounded, dead and thrown into the sea, on the other hand the ship was sinking.
He and his crew never gave up, their audacity never ran dry. Like a true naval hero, Parakrama refused to abandon his ship and decided to fight to the death, firing at the enemy from the bridge with his rifle, till the last moment.
For his individual act of gallantry and conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy, the officer was awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibushanaya (WWV).
Courage
The late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera’s profile is the best example for the positive thinking, courage, determination, perseverance, management and leadership traits built up through sports that could be made use of encountering challenging situations in life.
In such a backdrop, naming of ‘Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Sports Complex’ in honour of his unparalleled service to the motherland and the progress of Navy sports is indeed a tribute to all naval war heroes.