The story of Mother Courage

R. Karunawathi in Nellikulama sends all her six sons to the battlefield:

Chithraratne Kaluarachchi Hindogama Group Correspondent

The 65-year-old woman seemingly had nothing special about her. She looked ordinary, with silvery hair complementing her life of over three scores but the glow in her eyes said she was a cut above the rest.

R.Karunawathi in Nellikulama in Anuradhapura had a reason to be proud. Being a mother of seven she possessed the courage to send all her six sons and husband to the warfront which she believes “the duty” towards the country.

“I don’t regret that decision as they have put an end to the mission they embarked on. The enemy is vanquished. So mothers of the next generation will not have to send their children to the battlefield and wait upon their return,” Karunawathi said while recalling the days that she waited for her husband and the sons to return home.

Her husband A. Karunatunga joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1959. First, he served at the Ambepussa Army Camp and was later posted to several areas under terrorist grip including Jaffna, Mannar, Elephant Pass and later Colombo. However, he passed away in 1997 leaving his wife and seven children behind.

It did not take much thought or time for the eldest son Mahinda Karunatunga to heed the call. He sought permission of his mother to follow in his father’s footsteps who was in the Service then but the mother turned it down at first in fear of losing her eldest son. However, he convinced the mother to join the Army which ultimately became the common will of his younger bothers too.

“They all followed in their father’s footsteps, so how would I stop them?,” she replies while the feeling of pride lingers in her eyes. Her six sons and the daughter studied at Sena Maha Vidyalaya, Kaluwila.

Now she takes pride in her sons and husband for confronting the enemy to save the country. Karunawathi believes that protecting the Motherland is equal to protecting mother. “I’m proud that they all risked their lives to save the country,” the courageous mother remarked.

She conducted Bodhi pooja twice a week and engaged in religious activities to invoke blessings not only on her sons but on all the valiant sons in the warfront.

“The moments of tension were endless. I had waited long hours till the telephone rings or al least one of them steps in the house for a brief holiday,” Karunawathi said adding that after her sons joined the Army she saw them together only at their father’s funeral.

Despite all her sons being away Karunawathi does not feel lonely. Her six daughters-in-law and 15 grandchildren are always by her side to comfort her and look after her.

Sriyani Ramyalatha, beloved wife of Karunawathi’s eldest son said she had a firm belief that the war will end on a positive note. She brings up her two daughters and son while her husband is serving in the Army for over 17 years.

“He always assured that the war could be won. And finally their time and efforts were not futile. They have secured a united country and a future for our children. The valiant Forces have fulfilled their duty towards the country and the others have to come forward to rebuild it,” she observed.