TWO GREAT FRIENDS I LOST 30 YEARS AGO-By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne
WV, RWP and Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, NI (M) (Pakistan), ndc, psn, Bsc
(Hons) (War Studies) (Karachi) MPhil (Madras)
Former Navy Commander and Former Chief of Defense Staff
Former Chairman, Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd
Former Managing Director Ceylon Petroleum Corporation
Former High Commissioner to Pakistan
Sri Lanka Military gone through the bloodiest month of July in 1996; 30 years ago.
I lost two good friends, one in the Navy and other in the Army Special Forces during “Operation Unceasing Waves -1” launched by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from 18th to 25th July 1996 to overrun Mulativu Military Complex.
Attacks were led by “Brigadier Balaraj (Bala Anna)-deputy Military Commander of LTTE and Colonel Soosai -head of LTTE Naval Wing known as Sea Tigers.
Our military lost 1498 personnel, who paid Supreme Sacrifices, one of the largest lost by our military. The reinforcements sent by air and sea also faced very stiff resistance by LTTE. Ultimately, Military leaders at that time decided to evacuate the military Complex and Sri Lanka Navy Landing Craft(s) (LCMs) carried out the withdrawal by sea.
I lost two of my close friends, Colonel Fazly Laphir, PWV, RWP, RSP the Commanding officer of First Battalion Special Forces, who led the reinforcements by air to besieged Mulativu Army Complex and Commander Parakrama Samaraweera, WWV, RSP the Commanding Officer of gunboat SLNS Ranaviru- which supported withdrawal forces to board LCM by giving covering fire but hit by suicide boats of LTTE BLACK SEA TIGERS. Parakrama was considered Missing in Action (MIA) as his remains were not recovered.
It’s irony that both hailed from beautiful city of Kandy. Fazly was a Muslim studied at St Anthony College, Kandy and Parakrama studied at Kingswood College, Kandy and a Buddhist.
Parakrama
Parakrama was known as “Nalaka” to his closest friends. Gentle giant- 6feet 4inches tall and outstanding sportsman; Captained Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Rugby Football team, Captain of Defence Services Rugby Football team and SLN coloursman in Basketball. He was best Cadet of his batch and received SWORD OF HONOUR from then President JR Jayawardena during his Passing Out Parade (1980) at Sugathadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Image Source:Island
Cadet Samaraweera receiving award from then President
He was from my senior batch (8th intake of Cadets) and my interactions with me from the time I was a cadet in 1980 (please read my article Gentle Giant who fought to death” dated 12th July 2021 on the Island newspaper archives). The island. lkhttps://island.lkGentle giant who fought to the death
His bravery and velour written in SLN history as one of the greatest Commanding Officers who refused to leave his ship leaving injured officers and sailors. He fought to death on board sinking ship; not allowing terrorists to board.
He survived with his wife and two sons. Both his sons followed father’s profession and joined SLN. Younger son Bhatiya retired recently and elder son Samitha who is an Australian qualified Orthopaedic surgeon now working at Navy Hospital, Walisara.
Surgeon Commander Samitha Samaraweera with writer at Naval Anchorage (home for severely injured officers/ sailors), Walisara last month.
We will remember Commander Parakrama Samaraweera, brilliant Sea Commander, outstanding Sportsman and true son of Mother Lanka.
Parakrama (Nalaka) and two sons Bhatiya and Dr Samitha
SLN will never forget him! On A project initiated by former Navy Commander Admiral Piyal De Silva (team mate of late Parakrama in both SLN Rugby Football and Baseball teams) and completed by Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna was declared open on 23rd June 2021 in presence of Mrs Sudarshni Samaraweera and two sons and named as “Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Memorial Indoor Stadium at Walisara Navy Complex.
Dear Parakrama will be remembered forever! May he attain Supreme Bliss of Nirwana !
opening of Commander Parakrama Samaraweera Indoor Stadium
If you have seen Fazly, you think he is a Hindi Film actor! Very smart, always dressed appropriately, super fit, intelligent and above all down-to-earth personality.
My interaction with him was from 1980. He joined Sri Lanka Army (SLA) in August 1980 and attached to Intake 14 (long course) of Cadet Officers. Another close friend of mine,
Milroy Fernando also joined the Army in the same batch. Milroy was Sergeant of Royal College Cadet platoon 2, where I was his Lance Sergeant.
My interactions with Fazly were started from 1981, when Intake 14 of SLA Cadets came for “Gun Buster” exercises at Trincomalee where SLA, SLAF and SLN cadets interact. Another SLA Cadet got friendly with me! during our gerrogathers in Trincomalee. It was Cadet Officer Mohomad Ashraf Ashad.
It’s sad Milroy as a Captain died on 6th January 1986 at Omanthi, Vavniya due to LTTE land mine blast and Major Arshad died in Kattaparichan, Muttur, South of Trincomalee when he led Commando unit into a difficult battle against LTTE. Milroy is remembered every year when Royal – Isipathana Rugby match was played. Milo’s family donated “Major Milroy Fernando Memorial trophy”
this year winners of Major Milroy Fernando Trophy
Colonel Fazly Laphir
Fazly, first joined the Rajarata Rifles (infantry Battalion) on promotion to Second Lieutenant and then to GAJABA Regiment when it was raised by legendary Brigadier Vijaya Wimalaratne. He worked with Military Intelligence due to his fluency in Tamil language. When new special forces unit was raised by Major (then) Gamini Hettiarachchi, his course officer when Fazly was a Cadet at Military Academy, he joined him to those special forces unit then known as “Rapid Deployment Force (RDF). This RDF was expanded as Special Forces (SF) Battalion in 1985. Fazly led Bravo Company of RDF with his knowledge, bravery and valour. He was loved by his troops and always set very high standards. Fazly married Anoma Wickramasooriya, a very close relative of President Mahinda Rajapaksa in 1992. One of her brothers; Lt Colonel Prasanna Wickramasooriya was also an officer from GAJABA Regiment who served with Fuzly.
When I started training Navy’s Special Force (Special Boats Squadron), in 1993, the support given by Fazly was tremendous. He very well understood Sri Lanka being an Island nation, requirement of a maritime Special Force. In 1996, after completing his tenure as Chief Instructor at Special Forces Training School in Maduru Oya, he took over Command of 1st Special Forces Regiment.
On 18th July 1996, LTTE carried out massive attack on Mulativu Military Complex. Operation code named “Thrivida Pahara “was launched to rescue Military personnel trapped at besieged Military Base. On 19th July, 275 elite Special Forces Commandos led by Lt Colonel Fuzly Laphir, whom volunteered to rescue trapped troops, were airdropped at Alampil, location closer to Mulativu. Heavy fighting erupted in area and keeping highest tradition of Special Forces, their Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Laphir led his men valiantly. Fuzly got severely wounded due to LTTE mortar attacks but led his troops unto his death.
Mother Lanka lost a brilliant and heroic leader.
I lost two of my great friends in Uniform on this fateful day of 19th July 1996, thirty years ago !
Time went by…….
It was Gallantly Medal awarding Ceremony on 24th February 2001 at Bandaranaike Memorial International Hall (BMICH) led by then Her Excellency the President and Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga.
On that day, highest Gallantry Medal of Sri Lanka for exceptional bravery in face of enemy- Prama Weera Vibushanaya (PWV) was posthumously awarded to Colonel Fuzly Laphir.
Second highest gallantry medal for bravery and valour in face of enemy – Wira Wickrama Vibushanaya (WWV) was posthumously awarded to Commander Parakrama Samaraweera. His elder son Samitha Samaraweera received it from HE the President on behalf his beloved father who was considered MIA.
I was also was recommended for highest Gallantry medal for NON-MILITARY NATURE – Weerodara Vibhushanaya (WV) – for saving lives. I was on crutches due to parachute jumping accident; which broke both my legs!
I stand behind Anoma to receive my award. It was a very sad incident for me! My dear friend no more. He was awarded with highest Gallantry medal of the Country! May he rest in Peace!!
Receiving WV medal from HE the President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in 2001.
PS: when awarding medal HE the President casually asked “what happened to your legs? “(she must have thought my injuries due to enemy action)
I said “Excellency!! I had a bad fall during Parachute jumping”
Her eyebrows raised and said “you should be careful!”
What a graceful and caring lady we had as Her Excellency the President and Commander-in- Chief of Armed Forces!
I salute you madam!
