Life style

The sinking of SLNS Weeraya and Jagatha

Published

6 years ago

2020/11/1

After decades-long tour of duty on the waters, Weeraya and Jagatha – two ships of the 3rd Fast Gun Boat Squadron of the SL Navy, have now found their new home on the seabed off the port of Trincomalee. While they continue to prove their mettle enriching the deep waters as fish breeding grounds and shipwreck diving sites, those who manned them recollect fond memories on board.

by Randima Attygalle

Weeraya and Jagatha translate into ‘hero’ and ‘conqueror’. These ships of the 3rd Fast Gun Boat Squadron of the SL Navy lived up to their names ensuring the security of the Sri Lankan waters during wartime. Weeraya joined the fleet in 1972 when Rear Admiral D.V Hunter was at the helm of the Royal Ceylon Navy and Jagatha in 1980 during Rear Admiral A.W.H Perera’s tenure as Commander.

During the 30-year war, these ships were in the frontline fighting arms smuggling and terrorist activities in the seas off the Karainagar Island. Having played their part, Weeraya and Jagatha bid goodbye to the men above the waters, settling down on ‘Davy Jones’ Locker’ off Rocky Point in Trincomalee a few weeks ago. They were both soon to turn 60.

The ceremonial decommissioning of the two vessels at the Naval Dockyard in Trincomalee a few weeks ago was presided over by the Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna. In keeping with naval custom, the decommissioning was carried out with the seal of approval of the President. The decommissioning ceremony ended with the paying off pennants (long pennants equivalent to the lengths of each ship) ceremonially scissored into equal parts and the individual pieces distributed as souvernirs among the ships’ crew in the time-honored naval traditions. The decommissioning ceremony was also attended by Rear Admiral (Retd) J.T.G. Sundaram (as a guest of honour) who commanded Weeraya from January 1, 1980 to January 25, 1981 as its sixth Commanding Officer.

Manufactured in 1961 in China, Weeraya was one of the first of two gunboats (FGBs) to be added to the fleet of the then Ceylon Navy in 1972 as one of Her Majesty’s Ceylon Ships (HMCyS). Until the arrival of this vessel, the Navy had only one ship- a Frigate called Gajabahu and many unarmed small boats,

Lieutenant Commander (Retd) Somasiri Devendra, an authority on maritime archaeology, says: “When the Insurgency of 1971 erupted we were without any seaward defenses and had to call upon Indian and Pakistani ships to patrol our waters and throw a cordon around us. The Chinese offer of two reconditioned FGBs- (Sooraya and Weeraya as they were renamed later) was welcome.”

The ships gifted by China in early 1972 were commissioned a few months later. Commissioning, as Devendra explains, is the act of empowering a vessel to act as a self-sufficient unit of the Navy under a Commanding Officer. The ships were launched by the Prime Minister who was the then head of the government and the country’s chief executive. Devendra who was in Kochchikade when the Sooraya and Weeraya arrived as deck cargo on a Chinese merchant vessel recollects his first glimpse of them wrapped in bamboo matting. “They were a class of ships designed for use in rivers – those rivers were much bigger than anything we have. At sea, their buoyancy would have increased. They had several engines and were heavily armed. They were tested as seagoing craft by us and several problems encountered were put right with our inputs.”

Soon, Sooraya and Weeraya were joined by three more Chinese counterparts. “When these three arrived, a ‘nationalist’ minded officer decided to pander to then Prime Minister, Sirimavo Bandaranaike by suggesting that the five FGBs have names starting with S,W,R,D and B. This resulted in the names Sooraya, Weeraya, Ranakami, Dakshaya and Balawatha!” says Devendra. The Chinese teams accompanying the ships remained here for several weeks after the handover.

“All the manuals, signage, etc. on board was in Chinese only. The first local crew made use of their stay to get all of them translated as the Chinese team had very good Sinhala speaking interpreters who had learned the language at one of our state universities.”

After the ships started patrolling it was found that given the tight Navy Vote, it was very expensive to run them at maximum capacity. Nevertheless, some of them did undertake cruises to the Maldives, notes Devendra.

The decommissioning ceremony of the Weeraya and Jagatha, Rear Admiral (Retd) J.T.G. Sundaram who commanded Weeraya as its sixth Commanding Officer, says was the “first ceremony of such scale and pageantry.” This senior officer who graced the occasion as a guest of honour lauds it as a fitting tribute to the two pioneer vessels. “Before the onset of the conflict, the role of the Navy was largely that of surveillance which gradually shifted to an operational one. Weeraya and Jagatha were among the vessels which had to adapt to this transformation.”

Light House Relief Operations servicing the Little and Great Basses Lighthouses in the South and patrolling in the Northern seas were some of the notable surveillance exercises for which the Weeraya was responsible before she took on operational duties, says Sundaram.

Jagatha in the mid-80s, was a notable platform for cadet sea training, Sundaram, who was also a training commander on board said. “Both these vessels underwent mid-life refit in the mid-1980s for which Chinese personnel arrived here.” Before a ship is decommissioned, the exercise known as ‘de-storing’ takes place explains the Senior officer. “All weapons, engines, propellers, shafts, electronic and electrical equipment, fuel and lubricants are removed in this process.” Once de-storing is complete, scuttling of the ship begins by allowing water to flow into the hull.

“Sailing during South West monsoon along the southern seas especially along the stretch between Hambantota and Tangalle passing Great Basses and Little Basses were the acid tests that a junior rating or a cadet had to prove his sea legs,” recollects a top-ranking retired naval officer. Fondly looking back on his days spent in the Gun Room of Jagatha as a young cadet in 1985, he adds, “the kitchen (galley) was using diesel fuel and the food had an eternal diesel flavour! The single toilet was not sufficient to cater to the larger crew; hence a Thunder Box was installed at the stern of Jagatha!”

The Shanghai class ships – Jagatha and Weeraya were the “best teeth the navy had to bite in late 70s and 80s”, reflects the senior officers who adds with a chuckle that today cadets will certainly make a mockery out of seven- point gun drill what was a ritual prior to a gun being fired. “It was ‘The Gun’ that the LTTE most feared tangling with,” he adds.

Out of the Jagatha’s four engines, two were in the forward engine room and used only when high speed was required. Their roar at high RPM was not at all ear-friendly, he recounts. “The Crow’s Nest was a cage like contraption on the top of the lattice mast and slacking cadets or those caught for being too smart were banished up there as punishment

“Sailing through the Karainagar channel into the Elara naval base at Karainagar, passing Fort Hammenhiel without running aground, was a skill mastered by the then commanding officers and Master-at-Arms who were at the rudder of the vessel, he notes.

The Dumping Permit Regulations made under the Marine Pollution Prevention Act require the sanction of the Marine Environment Pollution Authority (MEPA) for any decommissioning of a vessel and this was obtained prior to the sinking.

“True to MEPA’s vision of realizing a healthy coastal and ocean environment for future generations, we welcome shipwrecks which promote fish breeding places and shipwreck diving which spurs awareness and future interventions in terms of sustainability. We are conscious that such wrecks are not detrimental to the marine life,” remarks Dr. Terney Pradeep Kumara, General Manager of MEPA. Any decommissioning of a ship, he explains, should be authorized by MEPA. “A dumping permit is issued for sinking of any vessel once the authorities are satisfied that all pollutant-agents such as oil, lubricants and non-degradable material is removed from it.”

The open gangways of a shipwreck are a haven for both the fish and the diver alike says the Marine Ecologist. “While wrassers, groupers, larger snappers and morays thrive in these places, they also enable divers to swin through these passages.”

Ship wrecks as the Tec-Diver and underwater explorer, Dharshana Jayawardena explains, could be a boon to fisheries and tourism. “From a fisheries perspective, the correct location and depth is important. The currents in the location will determine how well-nourished the wreck will be with coral larvae floating in water that will settle to make an artificial reef; also once it is a reef, how much nutrients will be available for its sustenance will also count. The least pollutants in the location, the better the reef will turn out to be.”

Wrecks also act as safe havens for shoaling fish to hide during day time. It is important that these locations can be easily accessed by recreational divers. “If not its value for tourism won’t be as much. In addition, the location should have good water clarity most of the time,” notes the technically precise diver with a wealth of experience diving into decommissioned ships both locally and overseas. The two decommissioned gunboats lying close together in the Trincomalee Harbour, the Chevron glass gunboat off the shores of Moratuwa, the wreck of We Ling that was sunk with several bullet-proof VIP cars onboard in Negombo and several decommissioned vessels in the Maldives sunk for the purpose of creating artificial reefs for the Maldivian tourism industry are among such diving pursuits of his.

A few kilometers away from the Jagatha and Weeraya’s resting place in Rocky Point, off Trincomalee, lie remains of several aircraft, decommissioned navy gun boats and also one of the largest wrecks in the world – the Admiralty Floating Dock 23. But marine tourists are not allowed to access these as they are within the harbour environs, says Jayawardena.

A ship sold for scrap will yield a one-time, short-term dividend, a ship sunk as an artificial reef will provide dividends for over 100 years as an abundant fishing ground and also give back millions of dollars in foreign revenue to the country from the tourist divers who come to visit the wreck, notes the explorer.

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Life style

A nation comes together: Business, compassion and public service unite to protect Sri Lankan women from cervical cancer

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/3

Thilina Walpola

Distinguished guests covering a wide spectrum of society

In an emotionally charged and inspiring gathering that brought together business leaders, healthcare professionals, philanthropists and community organisations, Sri Lanka, this week, reaffirmed its determination to defeat one of the country’s most preventable yet devastating diseases—cervical cancer.

The event was more than a formal announcement of financial assistance. It was a story of legacy, compassion, partnership and hope. It was also a reminder that when private enterprise, government institutions and civic organisations stand together with a shared purpose, lives can be saved and futures protected.

At the centre of the initiative was a renewed commitment by Dilmah and the Fernando family to continue funding cervical cancer screening programmes, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Rotary.

The programme, which has already helped thousands of women through early detection, will receive a further Rs. 50 million this year, enabling 20,160 additional screenings.

This follows an earlier Rs. 75 million commitment made in January 2024 under a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Dilmah, Rotary and the Ministry of Health.

A Son Honours a Father’s Vision

Delivering one of the most moving speeches of the event, Dilmah Chairman/CEO Dilhan C. Fernando reflected on the values of his late father, Merrill J. Fernando, founder of Dilmah, whose philosophy continues to guide the company.

Fernando said his father began his journey in 1950 not merely to create a successful tea business, but to build a company that would improve lives and protect nature.

“My father started on a mission to make the world a better tea,” Fernando said. “Now, better tea is always welcome because it implies good taste, but his vision was quite different. It was about tea that would have an impact on the lives of people and on natural ecosystems.”

He said he and his brother Malik were blessed to steward a business that values kindness to people and the environment as much as profit.

“Businesses do not exist to make profit. Businesses exist to create value,” he said. “Value begins with people and livelihoods. It continues through nature, which is an inextricable part of welfare. And if you get those two right, then you have the right to secure economic value.”

Fernando said learning that hundreds of Sri Lankan women were dying annually from cervical cancer—an entirely preventable disease—was deeply disturbing.

“It was something that was really quite abhorrent to us,” he said. “An entirely preventable form of cancer should not be taking so many lives.”

He said the contribution was not about publicity or recognition.

“We announce this not to boast, but in appreciation of all those who made it possible, particularly my father, because that is how it is possible for us to make this assistance.”

Thousands of Lives Already Touched

Fernando said the true value of the investment could not be measured in rupees alone.

“That value may seem like a big number, but it is insignificant when you consider that it has saved thousands of women from the scourge of cancer and in many cases helped them avoid late-stage disease.”

He praised Sri Lanka’s healthcare system for maintaining an admirable record, despite national hardships.

Dilhan C Fernando

“Whatever anyone may say about systems or governance, the fact is Sri Lanka’s healthcare system has an enviable track record,” he said.

Rotary’s Promise of Early Detection

Representing the Rotary Club of Colombo, former Rotary International President K.R. Ravindran delivered a powerful message on the life-saving power of partnerships.

“This is not a discussion. This is a promise of early detection,” Ravindran said. “Cancer, especially cervical cancer, does not arrive with a bell ringing or a warning. It whispers, and so often by the time it is heard, it is too late.”

He spoke emotionally of the grief caused by delayed diagnosis.

“For millions of women, that whisper is a devastating reality. Families left grieving—that is the reality.”

Ravindran recalled how Rotary had earlier established a stand-alone early detection centre offering free screening for breast, cervical and oral cancers. Through those efforts, more than 120,000 women had access to screening.

“During that journey, we learned something profound,” he said. “Early detection is not just saving lives. It transforms fear into hope, into possibility.”

That experience led Rotary to intensify efforts against cervical cancer, supported by overseas partners who introduced expertise and advanced screening technology.

A Crisis That Nearly Stopped Progress

Ravindran revealed that Sri Lanka’s financial crisis nearly derailed the programme when funds for HPV testing kits became unavailable.

“Without the money, the whole thing would have gone awry,” he said.

It was then, he said, that Dilmah stepped in.

“They did something far greater than simply giving money. They made scale possible. They made continuation possible. They made impact possible.”

He paid tribute to Merrill J. Fernando’s values.

“He believed business was a matter of human service. It was not just about making money. He did not just speak it. He lived it.”

He added that Dilhan Fernando had strengthened that legacy through direct leadership and compassion.

Sri Lanka Can Lead the World

Ravindran said Sri Lanka has every reason to believe it can become one of the first countries in the world to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.

He cited the country’s literacy, school vaccination programmes, far-reaching public health system and highly respected midwife service.

“One thing we have to be proud of is our public health service,” he said. “And we have an excellent midwife system. If you involve the midwives, you are effectively empowering the community.”

He concluded with a message of hope.

“I think this country can become one of the first countries to be rid of this disease. Perhaps one day no woman in Sri Lanka will ever again hear the whisper of cervical cancer.”

Science, Prevention and Public Health

Consultant Community Physician Dr. Nadija Herath, of the Family Health Bureau, explained that cervical cancer is caused mainly by persistent infection with the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), which can take years to develop into cancer, if left untreated.

She said this makes screening especially important because pre-cancerous changes can be detected and reversed.

“The most important thing about this cancer is that it is preventable,” she said. “If identified early, women can be fully cured and live normal lives.”

Sri Lanka’s Well Woman Clinic programme, introduced in 1996, currently focuses on women aged 35 and 45.

Dr. Herath said the country is now expanding the use of HPV DNA testing, which offers much higher sensitivity than traditional methods.

She added that outreach clinics in factories and underserved communities would be strengthened, ensuring women can access services close to where they live and work.

Cancer Society Calls for Social Change

President of the Sri Lanka Cancer Society, Anoja Karunaratne, said awareness and stigma remain serious barriers.

“We need to take this message beyond hospitals and clinics—into schools, workplaces, religious institutions and community groups,” she said.

She stressed that women should view screening as a normal and responsible part of healthcare.

“Women must not fear screening. They must see it as routine care that can save their lives.”

A Partnership with Purpose

Throughout the event, one theme stood above all others—the power of unity.

Government institutions brought infrastructure and expertise. Rotary brought leadership and international support. The private sector brought resources and purpose. Civil society brought compassion and outreach.

Ravindran summed it up simply:

“This is not just institutions coming together. It is values coming together.”

“When governments, civil society, global networks and responsible businesses all come together, we do more than fight disease—we change destiny.”

Hope for Every Woman

As Sri Lanka moves toward the World Health Organisation goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat by 2030, the gathering offered more than policy announcements. It offered confidence that progress is possible.

It reminded the nation that some of the greatest victories are won not in boardrooms or conference halls, but in clinics where disease is detected early, in families spared grief, and in women given the chance to live healthy, full lives.

And in that shared effort, Sri Lanka may yet become a global example of what compassion, courage and collaboration can achieve.

By Ifham Nizam

Life style

Rheumatoid Arthritis doesn’t stop at your joints; And neither should your treatment

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/3

Thilina Walpola

Dr. Aruna Caldera

By Dr. Aruna Caldera, Consultant Rheumatologist MBBS, MD, MRCP (UK), MRCP (Rheumatology)

The word arthritis comes from ancient Greek. “Arthron” means joints; “itis” means inflammation; so, arthritis means inflammation of joints. Arthritis is one of the commonest disease categories which effect man. Some forms of arthritis may not even require any form of specific treatment, whereas some may even kill you.

Among long-term arthritis conditions, the most serious is rheumatoid arthritis. This disease occurs due to genetic variations that cause the immune system to malfunction and produce antibodies against the joints, leading to joint damage. We call this process, auto immunity; in simple words, your immune system which is supposed to protect you, starts to work against you.

If proper treatment is not started on time, the progression of the disease will be extremely difficult. Without proper treatment, it can make life miserable and may even lead to premature death.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease. Joint involvement is only one part of it. In simple terms arthritis is not limited to the joints. This is why relying only on ointments or topical treatments can lead to extra-articular (other organ) damage some of which could be catastrophic and lead to premature death.

If untreated, inflammation damages the joints—causing deformities, cartilage loss, and involvement of more joints over time. Complications usually appear after 10–15 years. Those who don’t understand, or refuse to believe this, often rely on short-term fixes and, unfortunately, will suffer later.

Eventually, joint deformities can become so severe that a person may not be able to walk without aid, button clothes, dress themselves, go to the toilet independently, open a bottle, or even open a door.

There are several types of rheumatoid arthritis:

Classical rheumatoid arthritis:

Affects small joints (fingers, wrists) and large joints (elbows, ankles, knees). Symptoms include morning stiffness, joint pain, swelling, weak grip, and fatigue.

Palindromic rheumatism

: Sudden joint pain (and swelling) that disappears within hours or days. Many of these patients may later develop classical rheumatoid arthritis. However, treatment can reduce this risk of progression to classical type. Medication may be needed even when symptoms are absent.

Monoarticular rheumatoid arthritis:

Affects a single joint. It is often mistaken for other conditions like gouty arthritis or osteoarthritis. Without proper treatment, it can destroy the joint and later progress to classical rheumatoid arthritis. Commonly affects larger joints, like knees, ankles, hips, and shoulders.

Polymyalgic onset (proximal) rheumatoid arthritis:

Seen in older individuals and even could be missed by clinicians. Patients usually complain of stiffness in both shoulders rather than joint pain or swelling.

Most patients experience morning stiffness (difficulty moving joints after waking) and joint “gelling” (stiffness after rest). Stiffness can last from minutes to hours and is caused by inflammatory substances accumulating in joints during sleep and rest.

Other symptoms may include whole-body pain, fatigue, weight loss, mild fever, depression, fibromyalgia (generalised wide spread pains)

Rheumatoid arthritis affects the whole body. The effects on other organ systems are identified as” extraarticular manifestations”. Most organs can get involved in poorly controlled disease. Some of the common manifestations include,

Skin vasculitis rashes and skin nodules

Lung disease (interstitial lung disease)

Heart disease (ischemic heart disease)

Osteoporosis

Eye problems which can even cause blindness (uveitis, scleritis)

Nerve disorders (polyneuropathy, mononeuritis)

Dry mouth (Sjogren’s syndrome)

About 40% of patients may develop such complications. The only way to reduce them is timely treatment.

In addition to joint swelling, the whole hand may swell like wearing a boxing glove. Swelling in the wrist can compress the median nerve, causing carpal tunnel syndrome (numbness in fingers). Surgery should not be rushed—arthritis must be treated first.

The disease can even affect the upper spine (neck joints). Neck pain along with other joint pain should not be ignored. In simple terms, rheumatoid arthritis can affect almost any joint except most parts of the spine.

No blood test is required to suspect or even diagnose rheumatoid arthritis. In some patients the rheumatoid factor antibody test will never be positive (seronegative rheumatoid arthritis). Waiting for lab confirmation before starting treatment is an unwarranted delay.

Some tests may show abnormalities:

Rheumatoid factor antibodies, Anti-CCP antibodies, ANA may be positive

ESR and CRP may be elevated

Haemoglobin may be low (anaemia of chronic disease)

Platelets may be high

Blood tests are more useful for monitoring treatment and medication safety rather than initial diagnosis. One important fact we must realise is the titre of the antibody test positivity has no correlation to disease activity and we cannot use the antibody titres to evaluate the response to treatment.

There are treatments that can even bring the disease into remission in no time at all. However, patients who delay treatment, take insufficient doses of medicines, stop medication early, follow inconsistent treatment, or rely on unscientific treatment methods are unlikely to achieve this.

Proper treatment involves starting with stronger medications and gradually reducing it as the disease improves. Simply controlling symptoms, without addressing the disease progression, is not enough; that is why using pain killers and prednisolone only cannot prevent extraarticular manifestations.

The first goal is on-drug remission. After that, patients should continue medication for more than 12 months without symptoms before gradually tapering. Stopping/tapering medications too early often causes relapse, which is a major reason why many patients fail to recover. Some patients may relapse even after stopping medication, but modern treatments allow long-term control without harm and sustained, drug-free remission in other patients. Most novel therapies are available in Sri Lanka as well.

The medications used are called DMARDs (Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs). These do not just control symptoms—they change the course of the disease. Most patients respond to conventional DMARDs, but if not, biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs should be started early—not after joint damage occurs. These treatments are available in Sri Lanka. Without consulting rheumatologist, patients may not receive these advanced forms of novel treatments.

Having rheumatoid arthritis is like being trapped in a room with a venomous snake. As long as you stay alert, you can avoid harm—but if you ignore it, it will strike. The disease must be treated at any cost. The choice is yours. With proper treatment initiated early, you can live a normal life. Ignoring the disease will not make it go away. Misinformation by people who aren’t aware of the severity of the disease and medications used often causes patients to avoid ideal treatment, leading to worse outcomes.

There is no point worrying after diagnosis; see a specialist early and seek treatment. You can live a normal life. Even pregnant or breastfeeding mothers can be treated safely without harming the baby. The precious time you waste starting a DMARD will definitely impact the final outcome.

Life style

Avurudu spirit comes alive

Published

10 hours ago

2026/05/3

Thilina Walpola

Niroshan, Priyan and host

The Sinhala and Tamil New Year stands as one of Sri Lanka’s most significant cultural observances, marking not only the transition of time but also a collective moment of renewal, reflection and togetherness. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is deeply rooted in age old customs that continue to shape both domestic life and wider social culture across the island. Priyanthi Fernando brought the spirit of Sinhala and Tamil New Year to life, hosting a thoughtfully curated Avurudu celebrations that brought together elegance, culture and the timeless spirit of togetherness. The Sinhala and Tamil New Year festivities were held at Colombo City Centre, followed by a strong service of cultural authenticity. The event unfolded with traditional observances carried out in glamour and style. The atmosphere was warm, yet distinctly elegant, with carefully curated details. Priyanthi embraced tradition in a striking reddai hatta, even the invited guests embraced the occasion in equally colourful ensembles that added a rich, cultural vibrancy.

The food presentation added to the charm of the evening, with a beautifully arranged spread of Avurudu delicacies.

The gathering blended festive decor with familiar Avurudu touches, games sweet meat spreads. and a musical backdrop inspired by local rhythms. Both men and women opted for the national attire, while traditional sweets, such as kavum, kokis, aluwa and mung kevum, were among the food highlights, alongside other savories and contemporary bites.

Adding to the celebrating tone were the traditional Avurudu games which brought moments of laughter and friendly competition. As the Avudu Kumari was announced, the evening reached its natural clima, filled with smiles photographs and applause. The gathering captured the true essence of Avurudu with warmth and celebrations.