Memoirs of an army soldier

The 'Memories of a Soldier' is not an official version. Everything reduced to writing here are Major General K B Egodawele's own experiences. What is laid down is only a fraction of what is withheld. These will undoubtedly bring back nostalgic memories to the ex-service personnel and provide an understanding to the present and future GEMUNU generations, about the formation and the growth of the regiment. While unfolding the past memories, an effort was made, with the new generation of soldiers in mind to describe whenever appropriate the history of the Sri Lankan Army.

"What I heard, what I saw, and what I did, both sweet and sour during my long military life extending to over thirty four years, is immense. I found it difficult to accommodate all that, in this book. I have made it a point to include here only what could be seen and discussed optimistically, and confined to the first half of my tenure in the Army. Information about the first ten years of the Gemunu Watch is confined to what I heard. The rest of the memories are my own experiences." Major General Egodawele said.

He served in the Gemunu Watch only up to 1985.The Commanding Officer at the time was Lieutenant Wipula Botheju. During this period he served in the 5th Gemunu Watch and the 4th Gemunu Watch. As such, the particulars he has included in these memoirs about the 1st Gemunu Watch are confined to the tenure of office of Wipula Botheju as the Commanding Officer.

"I made it a point to confine my memories to the Gemunu Watch. But sometimes, I had to stray from its confines as I felt it would be of use to the reader if I included some important characters or incidents outside the domain of the Gemunu Watch."

Major General K B Egodawele further explained his mission.

"The intention to write this book was hatched at the discussion held at the water's Edge. Headed by Major General Susil Udumalage, Head of the Regiment seeking the views of experts as to how the 50th anniversary of the 1st Gemunu Watch should be commemorated. Although various matters were discussed at this meeting, no proposal for the publication of a book of this nature emerged. My good friend Daya Senarath who was present whispered something into my ear. The suggestion was that we should venture to write a book containing the past memories to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary celebrations. Lieutenant Colonel Sunil Peiris too a many occasions stressed to me the importance of writing down our past memories. Very often, he emphasized that it should be written in Sinhala so that the vast majority of persons could read it. He suggested me as the most suitable person to undertake this task. I agreed

"When I was at a dinner held at the officer's mess of the Electrical, Mechanical and Engineering Regiment, to mark the birthday of a close friend of mine The Defence Secretary Mr Gotabhaya Rajapaksha too was present. Another friend of mine who happened to be present of the party was seen discussing with him the recent publication "Gota's War" Here he said that it augurs well for the Army that Generals have recently embarked on writing down their vivid experiences in the army. He stressed the need to encourage those who had the talents to do so. This view provided me further inducement.

"What appears before you today is the result of that sincere effort.

"The 'Memories of a Soldier' is not an official version. Everything reduced to writing here are my own experiences. What is laid down is only a fraction of what is withheld. These will undoubtedly bring back nostalgic memories to the ex-service personnel and provide an understanding to the present and future GEMUNU generations, about the formation and the growth of the regiment. While unfolding the past memories, an effort was made, with the new generation of soldiers in mind to describe whenever appropriate the history of the Sri Lankan Army.

What I heard, what I saw, and what I did, both sweet and sour during my long military life extending to over thirty four years, is immense. I found it difficult to accommodate all that, in this book. I have made it a point to include here only what could be seen and discussed optimistically, and confined to the first half of my tenure in the Army. Information about the first ten years of the Gemunu Watch is confined to what I heard. The rest of the memories are my own experiences.

"I served in the Gemunu Watch only up to 1985.The Commanding Officer at the time was Lieutenant Wipula Botheju .During this period I served in the 5th Gemunu Watch and the 4th Gemunu Watch. As such, the particulars I have included in these memoirs about the 1st Gemunu Watch are confined to the tenure of office of Wipula Botheju as the Commanding Officer.

"I made it a point to confine my memories to the Gemunu Watch. But sometimes, I had to stray from its confines as I felt it would be of use to the reader if I included some important characters or incidents outside the domain of the Gemunu Watch. I hope the new generation will deal with what I have withheld from writing, and I believe that they will successfully overcome that challenge. The new generation is sure to have more interesting and valuable experiences.

"Since detailed notes on the founder of the Gemunu Watch Brigadier John F Halangoda and General Tissa Weerathunge among those associated with the Gemunu Watch are hard to come by,I am happy that I was able to bring to light sufficient information about their roles.

"In Late November 2002, the commanding officer of the Regimental centre, Priyanka Fernando made a suggestion to me that it would be appropriate to include in this work a chapter on the Black Watch Regiment on which the Gemunu Watch was modeled. Although the book was in print at the time of this suggestion, I am happy that I managed to accede to his request.

"I am also happy that through the medium of 'memoirs' I was afforded the opportunity to divulge some hitherto un known results of an exploratory research I undertook as a young officer at the Uva Camp. I have decided to credit the profits earned from this book to the hospital assistance account of the Gemunu Watch Ex- servicemen's Association."