Features
The Making of Me
My Heritage was Where I Started
I was born three months after my father died. In Sri Lanka it is believed that because of this I was a fortunate child. I do believe I have grown up and grown old having been blessed with this good fortune all my life. As I wait in the departure lounge to take flight into the unknown and be with those who went before me, I feel a need to share the story of my good fortune with you. So here I am with my memories.
Baptised Padmani Ayoma Chittra Wijeyesekera. Born as the ninth child of Adriel Henry Wijeyesekera and Pansy Alexandra Cecilia de Soysa on February 8, 1939 at “Sumanagiri”, Gangodawila, Nugegoda. My birth was registered on the last day of the mandatory three-month period by a much-loved and loving bachelor Uncle, Geoff. His full name Geoffrey Patrick Perera Abeyewardene, a first cousin to my mother. It was indeed kind of him to ensure that I was recognised formally as having been born. Perhaps it was because of his haste to beat the deadline that he seemed to have got the spelling of my name wrong?
I had always been called Padmini except when my mother shortened it to Padmi. Only she used that short-form. And I loved that – to me it was a reflection of her love for me. But then she also sometimes referred to me as her “bada-pissa”. I had all my schooling as Padmini, and it was only when I received my School-Leaving Certificate that I knew that I should have been Padmani. And Padmani I was ever since. Other than when my family and friends call me Padi, and I like that too – except when it reminds me of a few drunken Irishmen I met as a student in England. But Irishmen spell their names as “Paddy”. Who’s to know the difference when both sound the same?
If you thought the names of my parents were unusual, just wait until you hear those of my eight siblings. Arananda Rajamani Piyasena, Tissaka Camelin Moriawansa, Nalini Upamallika Premawathi, and then thankfully, perhaps with the times, they get shorter – Rajapala Sirisoma, Chandrani Sryalatha, Anura Hemakirthi, Sumana Gamini, and born a year after the last one and six years before me, Shatra Oraja. I have never met nor heard neither of another Shatra nor of another Oraja. The closest I came to either was when I met Chaththra in Nepal. But all these names would of course have good Arya Sinhala origins and deep meanings.
They would have been selected by well-known astrologers, using the sounds that must be included according to the time of birth. But for me born posthumously – no sounds necessary. They had meaning as most names given to babies have even now. So Padmani relates to a lotus and is the alternate name for the Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of beauty and charm. And Chittra is brightness. But Ayoma? That I have never been able to find out. I must add that the simplicity of my own names and the elaborate names given to my siblings indicates that, in all likelihood, the selection of names was my father’s prerogative.
On with my heritage. I believe that has had a strong influence on making me who I am. My father was the only son of Mudliyar Richard Samuel and Francesca Wijeyesekera. He grew up in their two homes which were the Wijeyesekera Walauwa located in Ambalangoda and another in Moratuwa. The Ambalangoda Walauwa I last saw standing over forty years ago. What is left of the “Moratu” Walauwa is now a Chinese restaurant. Over time it has lost its extensive gardens. The front to the new Moratuwa-Panadura Road and the back to new housing.
My Father
My father, a proprietary planter, was 24 years old when he married my mother, then 16 years of age. Their marriage I am told, was a happy one and there is evidence of it – nine children. Unfortunately, married life for my parents was relatively short. My father died at the age of 44 at the Private General Hospital on Kynsey Road. He had diabetes, difficult to control in those days. A common complication of uncontrolled diabetes was carbuncles and his death was caused by septicaemia which developed from the infected carbuncles.
Death came to him slowly and he spent his last two months in the hospital where he passed away. The fact that he knew with certainty that I was on the way is very important to me. I have that certainty because he had provided for me in his will. He is said to have loved children, and, as the baby, I too would have had all his love.
During his short life my father had many interests which my mother shared. Owning and racing horses, at that time on the courses at Galle Face, Kelani Valley and Peradeniya; and importing and raising Great Danes for Dog Shows were among his interests. Often talked about within our family were the six elephants he owned at the time of his death. The most loved was Maharajah, known fondly as “dthuth kota” on account of a short tooth. The tooth was topped with a permanent silver sheathe. He carried the Tooth Relic at the Kandy Perahera for many years, including the years following my father’s death.
One year, my father had a difference of opinion with the Diyawadana Nilame and refused to send Maharajah for the Perahera. As an Elephant who legendarily never forgot, Maharajah, when the time came for him to leave for Kandy, fell seriously ill. My father, sensing what had happened made up with the Diyawadana Nilame and sent Maharajah for the Perahera without fail every year after that. Maharajah carried out this task that he loved until he was too old to do so and Raja took over. I believe it is the stuffed body of Raja that is to be seen in Kandy today.
Great-Grandfather
A statue of my maternal great-grandfather stands in the middle of de Soysa Circus, Colombo in appreciation of his philanthropy. Charles Henry de Soysa is reputed to have been the greatest philanthropist that Sri Lanka has ever had. His statue now stands close to the Victoria Eye Hospital because he had gifted the premises to the people of Ceylon. Other gifts to the people of Ceylon included the De Soysa Maternity Hospital and the premises of the Colombo Medical College next door, the Lunawa Hospital, the Prince and Princess of Wales Colleges, a temple in Lunawa, and both churches and temples as well as schools and roads in other parts of the country.
Model Farm Road, Borella is named after his gift he called “Alfred Model Farm” – 160 acres of land in 1871 to make a farm. The farm was not a success and the land was taken over by the Governor. The Royal Colombo Golf Club now stands on part of this land. I have heard it said that parts of the University of Colombo and the Colombo Race Course also stood within the acreage of that land.
His philanthropy extended beyond the beloved land of his birth. He visited the UK in 1886. On that visit, he gifted money to The Hospital for Children, Great Ormond Street and to the London Hospital. Also, to St. Thomas’ Hospital and to Guys Hospital, London. I worked and studied at Guys Hospital for two years. I cannot recall whether or not I saw a plaque on its premises which had his name also inscribed on it as a generous donor.
He passed away in 1890. But not before Charles Henry or CH as he is fondly referred to by his descendants, entertained Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the son of Queen Victoria, on his visit to Ceylon in April 1870. CH was the only Ceylonese allowed by the Governor to do so.
CH had two residencies that he used. A Walauwa at Moratuwa in which he and his large family spent some of their time, and another called “Bagatelle Walauwa” in Colombo in which they spent most of it. It was here that CH entertained the Duke. It is written that CH had got made items of pure gold for the Duke to use for his meal. These included a plate and a knife and fork together with champagne and wine goblets. These items were carved delicately with vine leaves and embedded with rubies and pearls. Two days later, Alfred the Duke returned the courtesy and entertained the elders of the de Soysa family to dinner at Queen’s House.
After the visit of the Duke, CH had his home extended further and renamed it “Alfred House” after the Duke. Alfred House, consisting of a hundred rooms, stood on 120 acres of land. I have not seen its boundaries described anywhere. From what I hear, it extended possibly from the Golf Course in Borella to the sea at Kollupitiya. And possibly from Bullers Road to Fifth Lane. One can have but an idea of its extent by all the roads that still include the names “Alfred” and “Charles” one sees around Kollupitiya.
Nalin and I now live in an apartment called “Prince Alfred Tower” located on Alfred House Gardens. We moved here over five years ago. I like to amuse myself and my friends and family by telling them that I have come to live in my great grandfather’s back garden.
Regina Walauwa
As his sons grew older and found themselves wives one by one, CH decided he would gift them each land on which they could build their homes. And among these I know of two. One is “Lakshmigiri” built by his second son Alfred Joseph Richard or “A.J.R” as he is referred to. And the other situated next to it built by my grandpa, his fourth son, Thomas Henry Arthur or “T.H.A.” My grandfather had married Regina Perera Abeyewardene from Closenburg, Galle.
They started building their home together, but unfortunately she passed away at a young age before their home was complete. T.H.A. named their home “Regina Walauwa” and his five children which included my mother, grew up in it. It was bought by the State in 1920 and is now known as “College House”. Between Lakshmigiri and Regina Walauwa was a path which led to Alfred House. After grandma Regina died it was referred to as “Regina’s Path” the literal translation of which is “Queen’s Road”. And that is what it is now.
T.H.A. was an entrepreneur, but as with other de Soysa’s, did not have much business acumen. The shipping line, bank, plumbago mining, export business and newspaper which he had set up all came a cropper. The properties he inherited from his father and the generous dowry he received when he married were all gone. He was heavily in debt and was declared bankrupt. He came to live with my parents until his death in around 1929.
About the Author
Padmani Mendis is a Sri Lankan author. On completing her education at Ladies’ College Colombo, Padmani proceeded to England in 1958 for professional studies in orthopaedic nursing and physiotherapy that would lead her to a career in the field of Disability and Rehabilitation. Since then until the present, spanning a period of 64 years, her work in disability has taken her from villages of rural Sri Lanka to those high in the Andes Mountains of Venezuela; from the marshy Mekong Delta to the arid deserts of sub-Saharan Africa; from the land of the Vikings to that of the Masai; from the shores of the Caribbean to the Cedars of Lebanon; and from the biblical cities of the Middle-East to the rich cultures of China and Japan, sharing experiences in and between over 50 countries.
Her most significant contribution in her chosen area of work has been as a consultant to the World Health Organization. She was fortunate to have been invited by the WHO to participate in pioneering a strategy that would enable WHO to put on the ground their new disability policy directed at reaching people who have disabilities yet unreached with opportunities that would enable them to move from the margins to the mainstream of society. The strategy that Padmani helped pioneer together with two co-consultants, Einar Helander and Gunnel Nelson, came to be called Community-Based Rehabilitation or CBR, now increasingly called Disability-Inclusive Development.
In recognition of the contribution she made globally in the field of disability and rehabilitation Padmani has received many prestigious international awards. Among them, Uppsala University, Sweden, awarded her “Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Honoris Causa” in 1990; the World Confederation of Physical Therapy awarded her the “Leadership in Rehabilitation, 2015”. This Award is made every four years, to recognize an individual or group/organization that has made an exceptional contribution to international rehabilitation and/or global health. Padmani received two more prestigious honours from Lincoln College University, Malaysia, in 2018 in the way of an honorary Ph.D. in Physiotherapy and an honorary Professorship in Physiotherapy.
My Mother a Widow
My mother became a widow at the age of 34 with nine children to raise on her own. During their short married life my father had sold most of the properties he owned to meet, no doubt, the costs of his unusual and expensive interests and hobbies. On his death, he had bequeathed in trust to my mother the only land he had left, 450 acres of rubber in Bulathsinhala on a property called Waluwewatte Estate. Income from this was meagre but my mother, although she had little formal education, was fortunate to have had an educated mind, and this she used to raise her children. Her formal education had been three years at Bishops College. Before that, alongside her four siblings, she had been schooled at home by an English governess brought down for the purpose.
After the rubber boom at the end of World War II she was more comfortable, but still unable to spend much on luxuries. And yet she prepared all her nine children for productive and contented lives, conscientious and always giving of their utmost. They had the best of primary and secondary education available at the time – St. Thomas’ Prep, Bandarawela, Royal College at Glendale, Bandarawela and in Colombo, and Trinity College, Kandy at various times for the six boys. And Ladies’ College, Colombo for all three girls.
She went further to ensure that each would have the required qualifications and skills they needed so that they would have occupations with adequate incomes to raise their own families comfortably with more resources than she had had. I am confident that both my parents would have been pleased with their offspring.
Siblings
Arananda (or “Ara” as he was called – most of my siblings had short names) was educated first at the Technical College, Maradana to become an engineer and then sent to England to obtain the AMIMechE and become an Associate Member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers, UK. He became an eminent engineer. Later still he was Chairman of the Ceylon Transport Board. Tissa developed his love of planting at a young age and pursued this interest at the Boy’s Farm School in Peradeniya which led to a life-long career in planting. Nali went on to university, was a teacher for a while and then became a full-time wife and mother. Siri also went to university and then to England to qualify as a Chartered Accountant. He was the first Ceylonese Chairman of Forbes and Walker, then a British Company and now part of the MJF Group. Chansi, straight from Ladies’ College, was in the first batch of students at the Girls Farm School in Kundasale and spent a large part of her life as a volunteer for the Mahila Samithi, sharing her knowledge and skills with rural women.
Of the younger boys, Summa became a successful practicing attorney with a special interest in Intellectual Property Law. The other two acquired business skills in areas of their choice. Anura pursued his love of all things managerial and became first the General Manager of Ceylon Shipping Lines and later a Director of Darley Butler and Company. Shatra joined Vavasseur Trading Company, proceeded to England to gain further knowledge and experience and returned to be a director in many of Sohli Captain’s group of companies. Each one doing as well as my parents would have hoped for.And then there was me.
(To be continued)
by Dr. Anushka Kahandagamage
Last week began with the disturbing news of a brutal sexual assault on a female doctor at the Anuradhapura Hospital. From the moment of birth, women are taught to conform to societal expectations of how they should dress and behave, which shapes their sense of vulnerability. This feeling of being at risk knows no boundaries—whether it’s social status, wealth, or education, women experience it universally. It follows them everywhere, day and night. Even in the presence of men who consider themselves progressive, women still feel unsafe. Ideological beliefs or personal views don’t change this reality—women are constantly exposed to the threat of harm. Even when fully covered, from head to toe, they are not immune. In Western societies, which pride themselves on freedom and equality, women still face fear and danger. Vulnerability persists, even in their own homes or among those closest to them.
In a country like Sri Lanka, ravaged by decades of war, the pressure on women is even more intense. This is largely due to the celebration of military masculinities as the norm. In general, masculinity constantly tries to distance itself from femininity. These divisions are deepened by military models. To be seen as a ‘real man,’ one must embody military traits. This doesn’t necessarily mean being part of an official army or wearing a uniform; rather, any man who adopts characteristics like violence and physical risk-taking aligns with this military masculinity model. Nearly thirty years of war have normalised and solidified these military ideals, glorifying them more than ever. In such a society, women are subjected to and oppressed by these restrictive and harmful models of masculinity.
Men’s Unions
Referring back to the unfortunate incident involving the doctor, the Government Medical Officers’ Association (GMOA) organised a symbolic strike in protest. While it’s important to acknowledge their support for their female colleague, the issue is not solved by the strike itself or by the reactive nature of professional actions that only address problems after they have occurred. The GMOA has two presidents, four vice presidents, six assistant secretaries, a treasurer, an editor, two assistant editors, and thirty-five committee members, making a total of 51 office-bearers. Of these, only one committee member is a woman, meaning 50 of the board members are men. Meanwhile, the ratio of women to men in the medical community is roughly equal, and the number of female medical students is increasing, surpassing that of male students. In this context, the lack of female representation in the GMOA is deeply concerning.
Some may argue that it is the fault of female doctors for not running for these positions, but the real reason women avoid trade union politics is that these spaces are often unwelcoming. Women’s voices are suppressed and ignored, and many women do not feel these environments are safe or inclusive. The overwhelming male presence discourages women from participating, which is why they remain underrepresented in these spaces.
As a result, the specific challenges, insecurities, and forms of marginalisation faced by female doctors are not addressed within the trade union politics of doctors. These issues are never recognised as professional concerns. The troubling incident in Anuradhapura is not an isolated case; it is part of a broader pattern of difficulties faced by female doctors, with these issues going unheard by higher authorities. Therefore, instead of reacting after an incident occurs, the GMOA—currently shaped by political agendas—should take steps to create long-term solutions to address the problems of female doctors and bring them to the attention of the government. One key step would be to create a space within the GMOA where women can contribute their ideas and share their concerns. Rather than maintaining trade unions dominated by male professionals, unions should be established that include women’s voices as well. A platform should be created where women can actively engage in politics and contribute to shaping the future of the profession.
Women’s Unions
Additionally, the female doctor has the opportunity to speak up for herself due to her professional status. But what about the women who come from humble backgrounds? Do they have a platform to raise their voices regarding their troubles? Women’s voices should never be defined by their social class, status, or profession. A woman picking tea leaves in a garden may face harassment from someone more powerful and influential, yet this common form of abuse often goes unnoticed by society.
She may choose silence to protect her job. Similarly, a woman working the night shift in a garment factory may have to endure harassment and abuse without a chance to speak out. Many women in this country lack the platform a high-ranking professional woman has to raise their voices when they experience such mistreatment. This doesn’t mean that the problems faced by high-ranking professional women should be dismissed. On the contrary, it highlights that all women are equally ensnared by the economic, political, and patriarchal systems that dominate society. We all, to varying degrees, participate in upholding these oppressive social, political, economic, and military patriarchal structures. The crucial task is to identify these oppressive models and create counter-narratives that can challenge and dismantle them.
Models and narratives that perpetuate gender inequality need to be challenged and dismantled, and women’s active participation in politics is crucial in this process. These models, which often portray women as passive or secondary, limit their agency and reinforce systemic discrimination. To break free from these constraints, it is essential to create counter-narratives that highlight women’s leadership, resilience, and power. These counter-narratives not only challenge existing stereotypes but also empower future generations to believe in their ability to shape society.
Women’s participation in politics is vital to this shift. However, political engagement goes far beyond traditional party politics. It involves advocating for one’s rights, raising a voice for the marginalised, and sharing personal and collective stories that highlight the struggles women face. This form of political engagement helps to create awareness, foster solidarity, and inspire action within broader society. For example, women’s involvement in activism and trade unions plays an equally crucial role in challenging the status quo. Activism allows women to directly confront and protest against systemic injustices, while trade unions provide a platform for collective bargaining and the fight for fair working conditions.
Maybe Cassandra is small-minded venturing to the world stage to air her personal opinions. But opinions are allowed and speech and writing permitted in this island of ours now mercifully peaceful. So, she will air her views.
Opinions on the Trump-Zelensky confrontation
Cass cheers President Zelensky after his February 28 meeting with President Trump in a media crowded Oval Office. He was put down, nay, insulted by Trump and his Vice President. He admirably held his own and did not apologise even though he was shown the door.
Zelensky but were tactful. After all, good relations with one of the two largest, most powerful and economically elevated countries had to be maintained. They did not fault Zelensky, who offered no apology to the Prez of the US. After all, the insults heaped on him for his dress, his not being grateful to Trump, etc., he was shown the door. The outcome of negotiations between the US and Ukraine brokered by the Head of Saudi Arabia are still to be known.
Not so muted were the replies to Prez Trump (actually to Musk, who seems to be the puppeteer in the White House) regards his unreasonable tariffs, the latest on metal and steel products imported to the US. PM Justin Trudeau was outspoken about the unfairness of the tariffs and replied Canada was also doing likewise and added the corollary that never would Canada be a state of the US. Even the likes of Cassandra were shocked at the audacity of Musk to even suggest such a monstrously absurd idea.
In favour of Trump
A Sri Lankan, now a US citizen, mentioned how many ex-Sri Lankans, now Americans, are of the Republican Party and so must be approving of Trump as Prez. They are, she added, the rich ex-Sri Lankans, mostly doctors who have done very well in the US.
Of course, everyone and anyone is free in their choices. Dr Upul Wijayawardhana in his article What not to do in The Island of Wednesday March 12 writes: “I must say that I quite like Trump and admire him as a straight-talking politician. He keeps to his words however atrocious they sound! Unfortunately, most critics overlook the fact that what Trump is doing is exactly what he pledged during his election campaign …”
As Cassandra wrote earlier, all are free to make choices. Dr W is brave to declare his admiration for a politico who is being disapproved of universally. What Cass does not agree with is Dr W, while saying “the behaviour of Trump and VP Vance were hardly praiseworthy”, he censors the smaller nation Ukrainian: “but Zelensky did what exactly he should not do. After all, he was on a begging mission and beggars can’t be choosers! He behaves like professional beggars in Colombo who throw money back when you give a small amount!” Cass disagrees with Dr W. Zelensky was on a visit to sign an agreement for the US to exploit Ukraine’s mineral deposits; tied up with aid and arms to war against Russia but not on a begging mission per se. And they were both Presidents so there cannot be superiority at such a meeting.
Banker to Prime Minister
Looks very much like Canada is girding up its loins to fight an aggressive USA or rather the combination of Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Justin Trudeau has given notice he wishes to relinquish his premiership to spend more time with his family. And, his and the Liberal Party’s choice to vote as leader of the Party and thus PM designate is an ex-banker. No intelligence is needed to guess why this choice. To counter the trade and tariff wars instigated by Trump.
The Liberal Party of Canada, founded in 1867, is the longest serving and oldest active federal political party and had dominated federal politics in Canada for much of its history, holding power for almost 70 years in the last century. Pierre Trudeau’s name stands out as Party Leader and PM from 1968 to 79 and 1980 to 84. Son Justin held power from 2015. From March 14, 2025, Mark Carney will hold the fort, mostly against the economically conquering and property eyeing Trump.
Born in 1965 in Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Carney was raised in Edmonton, Alberta. He graduated in economics from Harvard University in 1988 and earned a Master’s degree and doctorate from the University of Oxford in 1993 and ‘95. After holding various positions at Goldman Sachs, he joined the Bank of Canada as Deputy Governor in 2003. The next year he was named senior associate deputy minister for the Department of Finance Canada. He was head of the Canadian Central Bank until 2013, after which he was appointed Governor of the Bank of England, leading it through Brexit and the Covid lockdown. He left in 2020.
Listening to a couple of videos of his acceptance speech as Leader, Liberal Party, he appeared to be of statesman quality. He is married to Diana Fox, an economist he met in London. They have four daughters, the eldest an ardent environmentalist.
Farewell of Trudeau
Cass listened to a video recording of Justin Trudeau’s farewell address to the Liberal Party. It was noteworthy. His teenage daughter introduced him and said he had given his life to the Liberal Party and Canada and it was now important that he spend undivided time with his family of wife and three children
Justin Pierre James Trudeau was born in 1971 in Ottawa, the eldest son of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. Holds a BA degree in English from McGill University and a BEd from the University of British Columbia. He taught in secondary school until in 2008 he was elected an MP and in 2013 as leader of the Liberal Party and Prime Minister in 2015, the second youngest PM in Canadian history.
As Cass mentioned, his farewell speech was excellent, speaking alternatively in French and English with French portions translated to English. He recalled all that Canada had achieved: true democracy and people’s rights, including women’s right to choose what they wanted in their lives. He said Canada could and would meet challenges, even fight for its sovereignty as Canadians, even the indigenous, united.
In conclusion, Cass surmises the world is still in uproar, in contrast to Sri Lanka. No, that is not true. Doctors are on strike as she writes, extending their one day of stoppage of work, demanding greater protection for women medical personnel. Good demand but bad to strike.
And the Batalanda problem surfaces itself.
By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne
WV, RWP& 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
(Extract from book “THOSE WERE THE DAY”)
It was in 1984, 41 years ago, that I returned to Sri Lanka, from India, after completing my Sub Lieutenant Technical course. My new appointment was at the Northern Naval Command and I was based in SLNS Elara shore establishment, in Karainagar.
Six batchmates of mine were also transferred to the North. It was in mid-1984. I now feel that transferring seven batchmates—boisterous Sub Lieutenants—was a very big mistake on the part of the Navy. We had just completed three and a half years in service. Whatever the situation, our parties went on till late at night. Thanks to the Indian food, which we ate for nine months, all of us were very thin.
It is believed that if you want to gain weight you have to drink toddy from the same palm, every day, before lunch. So, we owned one palm each at the Karainagar base. Our toddy tapper, Kandaiah, was paid 30 rupees every month (one rupee per day per one bottle). Kandaiah will mark our bottles and hand them over to the Officers Mess steward to keep them in the refrigerator. (The Navy Officers Mess is called the Ward Room in the Navy parlance). The Naval base in Karinagar, followed the “summer routine” due to the very hot weather in Jaffna. The working hours were from 07.30 hrs to 13.30 hrs. We gathered for lunch around 14.30 hrs, after all the senior officers had left. First, the bottle of fresh chilled Thal toddy, then delicious Navy lunch with sea food or mutton, followed by fruit salad or caramel pudding.
After our heavy lunch, we will rest for one hour in very warm weather and then go to the basketball or tennis courts by 16.00 hrs. Games would go on till sunset. Whether we gained weight that way is a moot question. Soon our ‘Christmas’ came to an end. We were detailed to ‘Mothership-daughter craft operation’. Seven sub-Lieutenants were in Command of seven boats, fiberglass dinghies (FGDs) fitted with 40 HP Out Board Motors. (OBMs). They move faster than fishing boats and our mission was to be attached to bigger ships (Gunboat, OPV or to trawler A521 ) and chase away any Indian bottom trawlers poaching in Sri Lankan waters and catch any smuggling or terrorist boat coming from India. Terrorists camps were situated in the Tamilnadu coast at that time. On 1 July 1984, (Sunday), my crew consisting of three junior sailors were due to proceed to sea. Senior most among my sailors was Leading Seaman Hibutugoda with eight years’ experience in the Navy. Able Seaman Buddhakorale, Marine Engineering Mechanic Bandara and I had been in service for less than four years. I was leading this young boat crew to action. During the daily briefing, I was told our boat was to join SLNS Jayasagara. (Offshore Patrol Vessel) anchored off Kachchativu on the Indo-Sri Lanka International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) by afternoon.
It was a fairly long sea journey for an FGB fitted with 40HP OBM. But that is how we started fighting terrorists out at sea in 1984!
We left the Karainagar base soon after breakfast at 07.00 hrs and reached Nainativu (Nagadeepa temple) pier by 09.30 hrs. I met Podi Hamudruwo, (a young priest) who was my close friend and worshipped the place, which the Buddha visited. Then we had tea at our Naval Detachment and proceeded back to sea. It was the height of the South West monsoon and usually sea South of Delft Island was very rough during this period. The funnel effect of Delft channel further made the sea even more furious. Leading Seaman . suggested that we turn back and return to base due to rough seas. I was not in agreement. Young and enthusiastic, I was determined to intercept terrorist craft or a smuggling boat in my first patrol on a FGD. So, we continued at a slower speed heading towards SLNS Jayasagara. Our only Navigational aid was a boat magnetic compass. The sea was very rough. As per my calculations, we should reach Mothership (SLNS Jayasagara) by noon.
We packed all our weapons and radio set in polythene covers and kept them safely under the bow- locker of the boat. We were riding the head sea, which tossed our boat up and down like a rubber ball. By 13.00 hrs, I knew something was wrong. Mother ship was not in sight, which was unbelievable. Our efforts to contact mother ship by our 10 Watts radio Communication set was unsuccessful. When we sighted the tall radio mast of Danuskodi (India), we realised that we had come too far away from the Mothership. (Later, we learnt the Mothership had moved to the North of Delft Island due to rough seas and the Naval base at Karainagar had failed to inform them of our departure). We were in Indian waters! We immediately turned back to our reciprocal course and headed towards Nainativu, none of these Islands were within our sight. All our calculations were done on the basis of our speed, boat compass directions and a photocopy of the Northern area sea chart.
The situation took a turn for the worse. After we started heading towards Sri Lankan waters, the wind and the sea coming from the stern of the boat made the handling of the vessel on a steady course extremely difficult. After a few minutes, waves broke on to boat, which started sinking. We jumped off. Marine Engineering Mechanic Bandara held on to a lifejacket. Others were swimming in various directions. The boat disappeared in deep waters within a few minutes. Wooden floorboards of the boat were floating. I grabbed one wooden floorboard and gathered others around it.
Now we were all together. Bandara was a non-swimmer and he wore a life jacket. Others were in a state of shock, even though they could swim. What they saw around them was only the sea with no land in sight.
What about me? I am a good swimmer thanks to Late Master Chief Petty Officer (PTI) PPR Silva, who was our swimming instructor during our cadet time. Further, my training at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, UK, where Royal Navy takes ‘survival at sea’ training very seriously. They put you in a life raft and keep you out at river Dart for a whole night during winter. Midshipmen from Asian and African countries who did the International Midshipman Course at BRNC with me cursed the Royal Navy instructors the whole night for keeping us exposed to very cold weather in river Dart. I realised the importance of that training in BRNC. However, the situation there was different. We were on a liferaft in River Dart, and not floating in water. Due to the cold weather in the UK during winter, if you fall into water, you will survive only a few minutes. You will die of hypothermia. The situation here in warm Sri Lankan/Indian waters is different. We would survive a longer period, maybe 24 hours.
I ordered all the sailors to stay together by holding on to the floor board and reassured them that help would be forthcoming even though I knew it would take hours to both CO SLNS Jayasagara, my CO SLNS Elara and Commander Northern Naval Area to realise our boat was lost at sea and to initiate Search and Rescue (SAR) mission. Then, I ensured that Bandara was comfortable with his life jacket. I instructed my sailors to just hang on to the wooden floorboard, not to expend energy by trying to swim. My instructions and reassurance had a calming effect on the sailors. We were riding waves, holding onto the floorboards. I told my sailors that a rescue team would come searching for us before sunset. Time as per my waterproof watch was 14.00 hrs.
I had one fear. After returning from India a few weeks back, I watched Steven Spielberg’s award-winning film ‘Jaws’, on man-eating great white sharks. The film is based on Peter Benchley’s 1974 novel JAWS. I thought such a shark would appear and swallow one of us whole. Further I knew for sure that there were no man-eating Sharks in our waters, but silently prayed that sunset would come fast in the hope that sharks would not see us in the dark.
Thankfully, at sun set, we saw an SLAF Aircraft on the horizon. It was patrolling along the India-Sri Lanka IMBL. We were in the Indian waters. Our morale went down to the lowest with sunset. No search would be conducted at night because aircraft and ships/boats could not sight us. We had to keep going. I told the sailors, “The aircraft must have seen us, but as you know, help would not come at night. We should somehow survive till next morning July 2, 1984)”. Something told me I was hoping for the impossible.
I prayed that it would not be the last sunset I was watching. I thought of my parents, my brothers and sisters, especially my sister closest to me, Lalani. who would die in an accident in Russia two years later. She was so close to me and I was her hero in uniform. I was determined to live and keep my sailors alive till morning.
As soon as the sun set, the new moon rose. The new moon was in the waxing crescent phase with only 7% illumination. That meant we were heading for a very dark night. I started singing, joined by my sailors. Leading Seaman Hibutugoda grabbed the ‘mike’ from me. He is a very good singer. I regretted having disregarded his advice that we turn back at Nainativu. A wonderful sailor, he mentioned it again. I respect him even today for his discipline. They were “old school” sailors who believed that”officers were always right”. The new moon started dipping down by the time Hibutugoda stopped singing. I wished if I had my hip flask was filled with rum. If I had been able to give him a tot, Hibutugoda would have gone on singing till dawn.
It became one of the darkest nights after the moon set at 9.00 pm. It was so dark that we could barely see each other. During my training at BRNC, I learnt that our body temperature was in water for a long time and body fluids transferred to sea water by natural osmosis; we would get dehydrated, feel drowsy and then drown. I was worried about my sailors, specially of Bandara, who started shivering. I told the sailors to keep talking and if anyone felt drowsy to inform others without falling asleep. I had the worst fear that one of them would feel drowsy and drown. To keep them alert, I showed them how to find North by reading stars and how to trace the star- conciliation of ‘Orion’.
Then, I asked them to count stars, and anyone whose count was the same as mine, would get a bottle of rum from me when we reached the base. They kept counting and recounting stars!It was the longest night in my life. The sunrise of 2nd July 1984 was the most beautiful one I have seen. I suddenly realized 1st July was Sunday and Indian trawlers would not go fishing on Sundays.
Morale, however, was up with the sunrise. I saw a few smiles. We did something unbelievable. We survived one whole night in water! We had broken all previous records by the Sri Lanka Navy on survival.
I saw Kachchativu Island on the horizon, where a small church was built by a fisherman, who was a survivor of a storm, and dedicated it to St. Anthonys. We were too weak to swim towards the island. I told my sailors that help would come soon. I am a Buddhist and firm believer in God Skanda (God Kataragama) and St. Anthony. When we get a sea appointment, we go to St. Anthony Church, Kochikade and light a candle because St. Anthony is the Saint who looks after seafarers like us. Our ships in the Colombo harbour, before proceeding to the sea on patrol first, turn towards St. Antony’s Church to invoke its blessings. Before taking over my sea appointment in the North, I lit a candle there. I prayed to St. Antony.
A book written by the late
W. T. Jayasinghe, the former External Affairs and Defence Secretary, titled, Kachchativu: And the Maritime Boundary of Sri Lanka, says: “The sea surrounding Kachchativu are
fertile fishing grounds and fishermen from Sri Lanka have from time immemorial been venturing into these waters. It is recorded that fishermen of Point Pedro went as far as Kachchativu to catch turtles during particular seasons.
The Portuguese administered Kachchativu as part of Jaffna and Sri Lanka has been exercising sovereignty and jurisdiction over Kachchativu and its adjacent waters without interruption.” (Page 18)
We were very weak by morning. Around 9.00 hrs / July 2, 1984, we saw a fishing trawler at a distance. They saw us floating and came towards us. I silently prayed again that it should not be an Indian trawler. We the SLN are not the best friends of Indian trawlers poaching in our waters.
It was a Sri Lankan trawler which came from Gurunagar. They took us on board. I looked at my waterproof watch. Time was 10.20 hrs. We had been floating for 20 hours and 20 minutes. All of us survived. The Tamil fishermen were very kind to us. They gave us water to drink, which tasted very sweet. We had not taken any water or food for almost 24 hrs. Most of us were shivering from the cold and had signs of dehydration. The fishermen gave us sugar and bread. This was the breakfast of these humble people. I ate a piece of bread with sugar with tears in my eyes.
I thanked St Antony for being kind to us. I was determined to come back to the small St Antony’s Church in Kachchativu soon to light a candle. Soon we were spotted by a SLN ship. The happy news communicated to the Naval Base, Karainagar “Ravi and his boys are safe. We are bringing them home”. A reception at the Naval base was unbelievable, led by my senior batch Lieutenant Parakrama Samaraweera (Pol Samare or Nalaka who died in Mullaitivu in 1996) and six of my batch mates. All these happened when I was a 21-year old, way back in 1984. Thank god for allowing me to live. Thanks St. Anthony
My mother was 82-years old and she broke her hip in 2017, when I was Navy Commander. She gave me most of the valuable documents she was keeping with her. One of those documents was my horoscope, written by a world-famous astrologer who was a very close friend of my late father. My horoscope was written only up to 1st July 1984, and the astrologer had said the remaining part of it would be completed some other day. My late father or mother did not know why the astrologer had postponed writing the second part. Now, I know why he did so. However, I survived on July 1, 1984.
When I was the Navy Commander, I was given the opportunity by His Lordship, Rt Rev Dr Justin Ganapragasam, Roman Catholic Bishop of Jaffna to build a new St Anthony’s Church at Kachchativu. I was more than happy to do so. Former Navy Commander, Admiral Piyal De Silva was the Northern Naval Commander at the time. I grabbed this golden opportunity with both my hands. Piyal did a wonderful job and built a beautiful church for St. Anthony in six months. I do not miss attending the yearly feast, which attracts thousands of Indian and Sri Lankan devotees. On 1st of July, I remember how lucky we were to survive in the sea.
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