Victory comes at a price. It is not in a single moment of conquest but from a prolonged saga of sacrifice, determination and endurance. Human history has been embellished with tales of gallantry. At the Army Cantonment in Panagoda stands a majestic sentinel to the memory of 3,868 officers and men of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI). This solitary edifice soars towards the blue sky and is a reminder of the supreme price paid by the brave sons of our motherland whose sacrifice enables all of us to enjoy a sustained peace.
I visited the regimental headquarters of the SLLI accompanied by Major Nalin Marasinghe to see this magnificent memorial. The Colonel of the Regiment Major General Amal Karunasekera (the present Chief of Staff of the Army) explained to me the significance of this monument and said, “This structure is a salute to the officers and men of our regiment who were killed in action. It is the idea and concept of former Army Commander Lt. General Daya Ratnayake, who is also from the SLLI Regiment. All serving soldiers of our Regiment gathered together to make this dream a reality. We remember and honour, daily, the altruism and gallantry of our fallen comrades”.
Work on the monument began in 2009- it was designed by architect Jayampathy Herath. The entire cost was borne by the regiment. On October 26 2015 it was declared open by President Maithripala Sirisena. The Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment made a significant contribution to eliminate terrorism according to Maj. General Karunasekera who said, “We are proud that four of our soldiers were posthumously decorated with the PWV medal (the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya is the highest military medal for bravery)”.
I was introduced to the custodian of the War Heroes Monument, Major Kushan Neththikumara. The monument sits in a vast area of land with immaculately maintained gardens.
At its entrance are two large lions mounted on a cement pedestal with a piercing gaze of readiness. The steps leading to the monument have four landing areas. On reaching the topmost landing there are 8 lions looking towards every direction. The outer layer of the square chamber is unique - its walls of copper are actually artillery shells that have been patiently cut and flattened by a team of dedicated soldiers. Major Neththikumara explains, ‘We don’t polish the wall of the outer chamber. The copper is exposed to the sun and rain. Similarly, our fallen comrades were exposed to the elements and other threats in the battlefield and we want visitors to realize the hardships endured by them’. From the base of the structure four triangular walls rise in veneration and reach a height of 82 feet. The four walls are configured in such a way that they capture the radiant sunlight and slowly usher that glow into the innermost sanctum.
At the first point of entry from the right you see the battle history of our island beautifully etched in cement. It shows ancient elephant mounted troops engaging the invading forces. The work of art culminates depicting the final stage of the 2009 humanitarian mission. From here you enter another section that has the photos of 6 Army commanders who came from the SLLI regiment. On the right of that wall are the photos of the 4 men who were awarded the PWV medal. The next chamber has a sentimental exhibit of 13 statues which depict the making of a soldier- showing a young man going for the recruitment interview, his enlistment and training, his combat confrontation, being united in matrimony and his role after the end of the war. The next chamber depicts the original letters and poems written by soldiers when they were in mud filled trenches and sentry points.
We enter the final chamber and immediately we are engulfed by an aura of overpowering silence. This is the most venerated area of the monument adorned by white slabs. It was as if we can feel the pulse of the 3,868 men who bled for our nation.
The SLLI has not forgotten a single comrade as the list begins with the name of Lieutenant Thomas who was killed in 1900 in South Africa fighting the Boer War and ends with the last soldier killed in 2009. The inscriptions show the rank, name, battalion and date of demise of each soldier.
It is this sanctum where the parents, widows and children come to cry and remember their sons, husbands and fathers. In the centre of this chamber is a reflection which reads “This magnificent monument reflects the heroic legend of the brave and mighty warriors of the Sri Lanka Army and religious, cultural and political coexistence of all communities and the hard won peace and parity in every sense of the word- it is not the tears and agony but the love and laughter we achieved instead, it is none other than the supreme freedom of our beloved motherland- Sri Lanka”. Every evening just as the sun sets a solitary soldier positions himself at the monument and solemnly plays the last post. As the bugle is heard every soldier serving in this massive military cantonment comes to silent attention, this is a most moving sight to witness.
The monument has a 74 seat auditorium where the regiment has a film show of all its heroes, which has been carefully documented. The final exhibit towards the exit is a lotus flower made from cut and polished artillery shells. It stands to symbolize the renewal of peace and prosperity. Located a few feet away is the Regiment’s museum which was initially built on a directive of Lt. General Authukorale in 1974. The displays include old weapons, uniforms, photographs, badges and medals capturing the excellent journey of the regiment since 1881. The Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment invites school children and the public to visit this monument and museum. On special days the regimental elephant Kandula can be seen saluting the fallen heroes. The SLLI monument is a reminder of the cost of freedom, and bears the message that we are all children of one motherland.