Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne … writing on 21st April 2024 in
Today is Sunday 21st April 2024. Five years ago 21st April 2019 was Easter Sunday 2019. SLCG Ship Suraksha, an 100 meter long Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), was getting ready for a 14-days Patrol. Her tanks were topped up with fuel, all victuals (required for 10 officers and 100 men crew for 14 days) loaded. Both cold and cool rooms were full with fresh fish/meat and vegetables. Ship was ready to sail at 12 noon on 21st April 2019.
“Suraksha” commissioned on !8 November 2018…. https://www.news.lk/news/world/item/23130-slcgs-suraksha-left-to-dosti-xiv
A young lieutenant on board, who took over his new appointment as assistant logistic Officer a few days back, was working hard. It was anew appointment, new ship, new friends and new crew, for him. He was keen to impress them with his work. A call came from home around 7AM from his mother to say they are on their way to the village Church in Kochikade, Negombo.
He was the second son of a devoted Catholic family.
He thought of one thing. I am going miss Easter Sunday Mass. He suddenly got an idea and quickly went up to the Commanding Officer’s cabin. He gently tapped on the door.“Yes” the Commanding Officer replied. “The door is open”. His Commanding Officer was a decorated former Naval Special Forces Captain. He had served with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard on a two year tenure as Commanding Officer of OPVs. The young Lieutenant requested the Commanding Officer’s permission to go to Church. Even though Commanding Officer was a veteran decorated Naval Officer with a career of bravery and valour, he was very understanding.
After all, his young subordinate was requesting to go to church on Easter Sunday, an important holy day for Christians. He knew his junior was a Catholic. He himself also was a devoted Catholic and had attended midnight Easter Mass. He gave permission to the young officer to go to Church and also said few words which he regrets today. “Sugath, the closest Church to us is St Anthony’s Church Kochikade here. It was customary for many Naval personnel, whether they are Catholics or not, to light a candle in this church when they get their new seagoing appointment. We turn our ships towards church before leaving Colombo harbour to get the blessings of St Anthony. Because as you are very well aware, St Anthony is the Saint who looks after seafarers like us. So, please go Son. Take the ship’s vehicle. Come back by 11. We are sailing at 12.”
The young Lieutenant quickly changed into his best civilian clothes and went to church. He was thinking of lighting a candle, pray and return to the ship in the same vehicle. The time was 0830. He heard the announcement that the Tamil mass starts at 0840. The Church was full of devotees. Families with their children dressed in best Sunday dresses. They were happy, chatting to each other and eagerly waiting for Mass to start. Our young Lieutenant spoke and understood Tamil very well. So, he changed his mind. His CO had told him to come back by 11. There was enough time for him to attend the Tamil Mass. He told the Navy driver to go back. He told the driver “I will attend Mass and come back to the ship. I can get a three-wheeler. It’s not that far from here to the Naval Base”.
The Tamil Mass started at 0840 sharp. The suicide bomber walked into the Church at 0845 and detonated himself.
With the deafening sound the Naval Base by the Church was activated. News started to come spread after the blast inside the Church. The CO of the SLCG ship Suraksha knew his subordinate was in church. He rang on his mobile while rushing to the scene. The young lieutenant’s Mobile was ringing, but no answer. Ships crew look out for their officer whilst helping casualties. CO rang the mobile of his subordinate officer again. This time someone answered! A female voice! She introduced herself as a nurse in Accident Ward of General Hospital Colombo. She said in faint voice, “Sir, he is dead!”
The CO sat in the road curb with tears in his eyes. He was a battle-hardened Naval Special Forces man. He had seen enough deaths and grief in his life, but this loss hit him hard. He kept saying “my son! Why did I allow you to go to Church.”
Lieutenant (S) Sugath Nadeeshan Silva was born in Kochikade, Negombo on 23rd November 1991, the second son in the family. He had an elder and a younger brother. He had his early education at Thoppuwa St Philip Nari Sinhala Mixed School, Kochikade and Mari Stella College, Negombo. He proved to be a brilliant student , excelling in studies and sports.
He joined Sir John Kotelawala University as an Officer Cadet on 17th September 2012.
Sugath excelled in cricket. He earned his Bachelors degree in Logistics Management in 2016 from KDU and successfully completed the Sub Lieutenant Logistics course at Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee . He joined SLCG ship Suraksha as his first sea appointment when his untimely demise occurred …………. caused by a terrorist attack. He was promoted posthumously to Lieutenant Commander and buried with full military honors. May he Rest In Peace.
At the going down of the Sun and in the morning, we will remember him. Please remember him in your prayers………………. Admiral Ravi Wijegunaratne (Retired) ….Sri Lanka High Commissioner in Islamabad Pakistan.
ALSO NOTE
A WHOLE SERIES of items in Thuppahi aka TPS provding details on the Easter Sunday attacks at various points in Sri Lanka mounted by local Islamic jihadists;
A SPECIAL NOTE:
I devoted a large number of items to the topic of the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka … so many that they require listing separately. Note that quite a few were from SL Muslim Moor authors: for eg see
https://thuppahi.wordpress.com/2019/05/03/after-the-easter-sunday-terror-4-21-the-way-forward/
AND ALSO NOTE THIS ITEM;
My God!. It is so sensational but real and hard to believe to be real. Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunatne, Chief of Defence Staff has narrated in a manner so well.