Appreciations

Lt. General Denzil Kobbekaduwa RWP RSP VSV USP,Maj. Gen. Wijaya Wimalaratne RWP RSP VSV USP,Rear-Admiral Mohan Jayamaha RWP RSP USP

On August 8, 1992 at around 1000 hours a deafening blast took the lives of the three very senior Officers and seven others at Araly Point in Jaffna. They were returning after a reconnaissance mission. This was the worst loss ever in men to the country in general, and the Army in particular.

The late Major-General Wimalaratne was considered to be the best strategist/planner the Army had ever produced. He joined the Army in 1963 and was trained in a military academy in India.

In 1969 he returned from a jungle warfare training course in Malaysia and immediately got down to training officer cadets in the specialist art of jungle warfare.

He was also an expert on close quarter combat situations and was popularly referred to as the ‘kala kumaraya’ by his troops, due to his ease at surviving in such a dangerous environment.

During a varied and colourful career he raised and nurtured the 1st Battalion the Gajaba Regiment. Some of the officers went onto serving in the elite Special Forces and Commando Regiments and most ended up as Commanding Officers of their Regiments.

In 1987 he commanded 3 Brigade, which was the first in a two Brigade Op in the SL Army.

Towards the latter part in his career he progressed rapidly in the ranks and achieved the positions of Commander Security Forces Jaffna and headed Colombo Security during the southern insurgency, and thereafter the famous Operation Combine was formed.

He was known to be a daring warrior and sometimes used to call friendly fire near to his own positions, especially at times of close combat. On some occasions it is said that he suffered personal injury as a result of this.

His staying power and ability to deal successfully with most adverse situations helped in raising morale amongst his troops.

Late Lt-General Denzil Kobbekaduwa was better known to the public due to his charisma and gentlemanly conduct. He joined the Army as an officer cadet in 1961 and entered the prestigious British Military Academy in Sandhurst.

He was later able to motivate his troops by sheer force of personality and having the interest of his troops at all times. He was a team player but when the situation demanded it he would assume the role of leader as easily as a duck taking to water.

He had a distinguished record in the Army, where he was able to reach its highest levels and only his premature demise prevented him from reaching its Commandership.

He achieved two distinct goals. The first, was his role along with Late Major-Gen. Wimalaratne in Op Vadamarachi. The Sri Lanka Army at that time was on the verge of annihilating the Northern terras, when an unjust interference in our internal affairs prevented the destruction of a vile and murderous movement.

The tragedy today sadly is the consequence of losing that golden opportunity. The second achievement was his formation of the Rapid Development Force which formed the nucleus of the elite Special Forces Regiment. Today this Regiment stands out in almost every victory that the Army achieves.

He was also an extremely humane character and he assisted in the rehabilitation of victims in border villages and amongst the internally displaced persons, treating everybody alike without racial, religious or other prejudices. This was evidenced by the large number of civilians from the North and East, who came to pay their last respects.

The loss of these two specialists left a vast void in the Army and many debacles followed thereafter. However today we may be finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Those who served with them, some retired, but others currently in service, are turning the tide and a renaissance is in the making. The proverbial phoenix is rising from the ashes. Thus our departed heroes may now lie in peaceful bliss.

The late Rear - Admiral Mohan Jayamaha RWP RSP USP was the most senior Naval Officer in the chosen group and held the position of COMNORTH. He was an established specialist in Naval Operations and was a tremendous loss to the Navy and the country.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the setting of the sun and in the morning
We shall remember them
Lest we forget
True sons of our soil may you attend the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

- THE GENERAL RANJAN WIJERATNE FOUNDATION

Col HR Stephen, Col G. H. Ariyaratne, Col Y. N. Palipane, Lt-Col N. S. de Alwis, Lt-Comd A. Lankathileke, Lt-Comd C. B. Wijepura, Sgt Wickremeratne

The tragedy that took place on August 1992 at Arali Point, ensnared the above servicemen with the exception of then Corporal Wickremeratne who managed to survive sans limbs, despite his extensive injuries.

Caught in a tremendous explosion it destroyed a team that was handpicked by the late Lt-Gen Kobbekaduwa and Maj-Gen Wimalaratne to wrest control of Jaffna from the LTTE.

The rest of the team also consisted of individuals ready and professionally able to fight a ruthless enemy and were to be the vanguard to take us to that elusive peace and they were fortunate enough not to participate in this fateful recce.

They survived. One such officer was Wing Commander Sunil Cabral. Unfortunately fate decided otherwise to the above.

To the fearless sons of our soil, the silent majority will always be grateful, despite the advancing years and fading memories. You will never be forgotten.

Cry not for them dear patriots, they are not dead Only their bodies were consumed by flames, Grieve not for them dear patriots, They are alive amongst the great heroes of our land. True sons of our Motherland may you all attain the Supreme Bliss of Nibbana.

- THE GENERAL RANJAN WIJERATNE FOUNDATION

Lt.General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Maj. Gen. Wijaya Wimalaratne and Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha/ SLN

Lt.General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa, General Officer commanding the Northern Province, Maj. Gen. Wijaya Wimalaratne and Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha of the Sri Lanka Navy died while on an inspection tour of Jaffna.

Being patriotic, fearless and loyal sons of the soil, their untimely deaths in August 1992 sent shockwaves throughout Sri Lanka.

Lt.General Denzil Kobbekaduwa who hails from Kandy was a Trinity Lion and was a great sportsman and a cadet.

He later played for Kandy Sports Club and captained the club to victory in the Clifford Cup finals.

He wanted to take to planting but ended up joining the Army as a Cadet Officer.

He was sent to Sandhurst and on return, he was enlisted in to the Ceylon Armoured Corp Maj Gen. Wijaya Wimalaratne was a very active officer in the Northern Province. He was a great asset to Gen. Kobbekaduwa. Maj-Gen. Wimalaratne was a product of Ryal College and really shone in his academic studies and sports.

He joined the Army as a Cadet Officer and was appointed 2/lieutenant in I/Bn.

Sri Lanka Army Infantry Regiment. Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha was the naval commander of the Sri Lanka Navy in the Northern Province.

He too was instrumental in containing and dealing a heavy blow on the socalled Sea Tigers.

Our deepest sympathies go out to their beloved families on behalf of the Matara District Ex-servicemens Association.

May they be reborn among us till they attain Nibbana in their journey in Sansara.

Netham Mana, Netho Hamasmi, Na me so Athta.
This is not mine, Is this me, This not the soul of mine. - Dhammapada.

- Capt. L. B. Lanka (Wilbawe), Jayaratne, and Secretary and Lieut/Col. Mahinda Suriyarachchi, KSV, president, Matara District Ex-Servicemens Association

K.C. Kamalasabeyson, PC

The death of former Attorney-General, President’s Counsel K. C. Kamalasabeyson in Chennai at the age of 58 after a brief illness marks the end of a distinguished legal and academic career. In fact his passing away is a tremendous blow to his family, friends, relations and all other associates.

Mr. Kamalasabeyson was one of the most polished, persuasive and hard working Attorney Generals of our times. His methodical and meticulous preparation of the work entrusted to him was indeed an exercise in unbounded patience, total dedication and also maximum assistance to the Bench.

When he walked into the Court he knew his brief like the back of his hand and what he did not know, was not worth knowing. His court craft was admirable and unmatched. Mr. Kamalasabeyson will go down in history as one of the all time greats of Hulftsdorf.

Many are the cases in which, by his clarity of thought, mastery analysis, mellifluous language assisted the Bench in clarifying and setting the principles of law relating to complicated cases.

Blessed with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of energy, enthusiasm, inspiring leadership and quickness of thought he attained eminence as a civil lawyer.

No field of human endeavour was left untouched by the swaying amplitude of his imagination, he encompassing sweep of his thought, the penetrating yet lucid felicity of his words and the indefatigable zeal of his actions.

No wonder he left an indelible impression in most of what he touched with rare dynamism and exemplary zeal.

Kamalasabeyson on completion of his secondary education at S. Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia entered the Sri Lanka Law College and passed out as an advocate with first class honours in November 1971.

He apprenticed under G.F. Sethukavalar and was enrolled as an Advocate in June 1972. He joined the Attorney-General’s Department as a State Counsel on 1st August, 1974. Further he obtained his Master of Laws (Public Law) at the University of Colombo and L.L.M. in International Business Law from the University of London.

On March 1, 1996 he was appointed as Additional Solicitor General an account of his hard work and efficiency. He has appeared for the State in several extradition cases including Manik Sandrasagara and Benwell cases.

Furthermore, he was a visiting lecturer and examiner in the Sri Lanka Law College and also a visiting Lecturer at the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo.

Kamalasabeyson was very popular among officers in the Attorney-General’s Department and also with his junior counsels for his good principles honesty and sincerity. Further, he was simple at heart, unassuming, straightforward, sincere, which were good qualities rare among other lawyers.

He was indeed an inspiration and guide to everyone in the Attorney-General’s Department. Besides, he had held the office of the Attorney-General at a critical and crucial period and discharged his responsibilities with unsurpassed distinction and unsullied honour.

He was always of the view that noble means, noble ideas, noble action would certainly have noble consequences. Besides, he rose above narrow parochialism regionalism, sectarianism and communalism.

In fact, he showed by his illustrious life how men is the midst of storm and stress of worldly life could achieve the full and perfect development of his personality. He was full of efficiency, industry and faith. Indeed he had leadership qualities to galvanise the support of diverse elements.

Possessed of a sparkling versatile genius he illumined any and every task which he undertook with an extraordinary sense of devotion, dedication combined with a unique organizing ability and a dedicated harmonising touch.

Further, he participated as chief guest in many of the literary and religious functions such as Kamban Kalaga Vizha, Colombo Tamil Sangam literary meetings and various other prize-giving functions held in schools and colleges.

Undoubtedly, Kamalasabeyson was literally a comet who blazed momentarily across our skies leaving in his trail a luminescence which the passing of time can hardly erase. He was a dutiful father, a devoted husband, a loyal and trustworthy friend, a professional of great ability and deeply religious servant of his maker.

Indeed, he was a colossus multi-faceted and multi-divisional personality who will be always remembered by all the communities and denominations for his work, worth and value. In bidding farewell to his noble soul, lets us all bow to God’s will be gratitude and May I say: “God night sweet prince and the flights of Angels sing thee to thy rest.”

- Kalabhooshanam Chelvathamby Maniccavasage