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APPRECIATIONS
CAPTAIN H A PERUSINGHE:
Officer of the highest calibre
It is with a heavy heart that I pen these lines to pay tribute to a
special friend, batch mate and colleague Group Captain Harendra Asoka
Perusinghe, who left this world on July 01, 2011.
Born on June 11, 1962 to George and Dulci Perusinghe of Matale he was
the second out of four siblings. He was a full fledged Anandian and a
hosteller until he left his Alma - Mater. During his schooldays he was a
very versatile sportsman who played Rugby, Athletics and Basket ball.
 “Peru “as he was better known by his colleagues, friends and even his
superiors enlisted in the Sri Lanka Air force in May 1984 as an Officer
Cadet in the 12th Intake, which consisted of two General Duties Pilots
and four Administration/ Regiment cadets. After successfully completing
our training Peru along with three of us were commissioned in the rank
of Pilot Officers in the Administration Regiment Branch in October 1985.
He was promoted to the Rank of Flying officer in April 1987 and
served as the 102 Squadron Commander at the Regiment Headauarters
Katunayake, handling the task of providing security to the whole SLAF
Base Katunayake, which was no easy task taking into the account the
threat factors that were prevailing during that time from the LTTE and
JVP. This he did with distinction which earned him due recognition in
his career. During our stay at Katunayake he was a live wire not only at
the work place but also in our bachelor’s living in quarters better
known as Siberia. He was always there to plan various games and
activities in our famous Siberia.
Due to his commitment and capabilities he was given the
responsibility of the commanding Officer SLAF Ampara in March 1990. His
commitment and dedication was so great towards this camp that he
transformed this small insignificant camp which mainly consist of a few
Cadjan huts and temporary buildings to a fully fledged station within a
short space of five years that he was there. During his tenure at Ampara
which lasted for five years he not only developed the entire camp but
also made sure that he improved the relationship with the Villagers and
Government authorities of the area.
He started a metal quarry which not only supplied rubble and stones
for his building projects but also provided same for other Air Force
establishments as well. He even went to the extent of providing Rubble
and stones for the villagers to build their own houses.
By providing the much needed security to the villagers they were able
to carry out their own cultivation.
His involvement was seen even towards the renovation of the
Himadurawa, Sri Sumangala Ramaya temple as well as the Himadurawa
School. He was posted out of SLAF Ampara in 1995 in the rank of Squadron
Leader.
From 1995 to 1998 he served at SLAF Ratmalana as the Regiment Wing,
Commanding Officer who was in charge of providing security to this main
flying base. This he did with great distinction. His far thinking and
initiative of dominating not only within the camp perimeter but its
surrounding areas which is highly populated paid good dividends when his
troops were able to unearth a plot to attack the Air force base by LTTE
and even apprehend some LTTE cadres involved in it. This prevented a
major catastrophe taking place in this main flying base with all its air
assets.
In 1998 he was once again posted to SLAF Sigiriya as the Commanding
Officer. His posting was equally full of activities as that of Ampara
where he not only improved the infrastructure of the whole camp but also
started many projects. He once again started a Metal quarry and a Cement
Block project. He went on to start a Fence Post project which catered
for the Air Force requirements. He further started a vegetable farm
which not only supplied fresh vegetables to the Air Force but also to
the Sri Lanka Army Northern Area. His activities were not limited to the
camp only but he was involved in helping the poor villagers in the
vicinity of the camp.
He also did not forget to renovate the Kimbissa Temple and the
Digampathana temple. He was promoted to the rank of Wing Commander
whilst serving at SLAF Sigiriya.
In 2001 he was posted as the Group Two Commander of the Special
Operation Deployment on the Forward Defence Line (FDL) at Purawasakulam
, Vavuniya. The courage shown by Peru in leading his men from the front
was very creditable.
In 2003 he was posted as the Commanding Officer of the Regiment Wing
based in Colombo which was responsible for the Security of the Air Force
Headquarters as well as the Head Quarters unit in Colombo. This needed
much co-ordination with both the Army and civilians in the area which he
carried out marvellously. He was promoted to the rank of Group Captain
in 2006 which he remained until his untimely and shocking demise in
July.
Peru was posted to SLAF Katunayake 2006 as the Command Agro Officer
as well as the task of co-ordination all special projects undertaken in
all Air Force stations. Some of the welfare projects started by him were
the establishing of a cloths store named Skyline garments. He even
expanded the Poultry project and thereby increasing the production to
cater for the needs of the Air Force.
His involvement was not only limited to the Air Force but was
rendered for the Northern and Eastern Development Project (Uthuru &
Nagenahira Wasanthaya) after the end of the Eelam war, where he
established a major Metal Quarry at Mamaduwa in Vavuniya which supplied
rubble and stones for the development activities that were taking place
in the Northern and Eastern Regions.
During his carrier in the Air Force he was decorated with the Purna
Bumi, Rivirasa, Long Service, 50th Independence, Air Force 50th
Anniversary, North & East Operation, USP, North & East Humanitarian
medals. Peru was no doubt an exemplary officer to his fellow officers
and a role modal to all junior officers. His dedication, commitment,
loyalty and integrity to the Air Force were exemplary. Without a shadow
of a doubt Peru was an officer and gentleman of the highest calibre.
May you attain the Supreme bliss of Nirvana.
Group Captain (Retd) Ajith Nathaniels
Sri Nivasa Suriaratchchi:
Person who never yearned for fame
It is with a sense of deep grief in my heart that I tried to pen a
few lines of my feelings. The untimely tragic loss of your life have
been a great shock for all your loved ones. You were the guiding star
and the strong binding of our family unit.
You have been very intelligent and a bright child from your small
days. I can still remember how you were able to point out of the five
continents and oceans on the map of the world at the tender age of three
and the proud smile on my mother’s face as she was the person who guided
you mostly, as we were away in the hostel as students.
It’s pity my parents were not living to see how you climbed up to the
top of your profession as a Science teacher, and retired as a Science
Director at the Education Department. You proved yourself to be very
efficient and worthy person to the nation. Your achievements are
innumerable. You did your best to educate the students in Science and
had translated a number of Science books into Sinhala to enable them to
study in their mother language, and that you have received five
presidential awards for science for your noble and dedicated work.
As soon as you got through your A Level’s you were lucky to get an
employment as an apprentice laboratory assistant to Prof. Calo Fonseka
“meantime you had sat for your science training course at Maharagama
Teacher’s Training College.
You opted to gain admittance as the batch of first Science teachers’
to be trained in Sri Lanka.
You proved your talents in all extra curricular activities.
With all the meritorious acts you have accumulated in this birth, may
your trouble in samsara be ended, and attain the supreme bliss of
“Nirvana”.
Dr. Udeni Wijekoon
Dedicated to Nanda
We meet and we part
In this journey through Samsara
But the meeting or parting does not end with time or years
It’s a long stretch of an endless road.
Where milestones matter more than rises or falls
We have travelled together on this hard and endless road.
Where milestones matter more than rises of falls.
The journey was not smooth nor full of magical moments alone.
But many achievements reached more worth than monuments in gold.
Leaving a fragrant air that would linger and unfold
Now you are gone, as you wished on a fateful morn
Gifting a memory of a life rich and rare
A warm tear drops none would see or feel
As I ponder about you while memory unfolds your sight.
Neetha S. Ratnapala |
