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| Sunday, 21 April 2002 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The bold, the brave and the daming... : Our heroes by Neomi Kodikara They are not in the calibre of the nimble Achilles, the greatest of all
Greek warriors. Nor can one equal their might and skill to that of Sri Lanka's very own heroes! Intrepid men and boys who risked life and limb to save the lives of friends, family members and even complete strangers. Men and boys who put another's life above their's... Forty three men and boys were elevated to the calibre of 'Brave Civilians of Sri Lanka' and were awarded medals, certificates and letters of commendation at the 'Savsiripaya' auditorium recently, for this highest manifestation of human nobility.
The bravest of them all was D.M. Samantha from Meegoda, who earned a gold medal for saving the life of his friend Ranjith, who was in danger of being run over by a train. The feat, as dramatic as it was courageous, went beyond the call of familial obligation, friendship and loyalty and was demonstrated in various degrees by the rest of the heroes awarded medals and certificates. Mahesh Udaya Ranasinghe of Ma Oya, a 16-year-old student who saved two people from drowning: Anusha Pradeep Kumara and D.M. Ananda Nimalasiri, the two brothers who rescued 14 people from the Loggala Oya, the members of the Life Saving Clubs of Ananda and Nalanda Colleges, L.S. Samantha of Kamburupitiya, G.K.G. Lalith Samaranayake of Panadura, Yatamagala Gamage Bandusena from Karagoda; Rev. Mabulgoda Somarathana Thero, Edward Dominicon... all earned their place in the hero pedestal with deeds that were heart-warmingly courageous. Bravery on the battle field is a common enough occurrence and has been recognised and rewarded right through history. But the recognition of civilian bravery becomes significant at a time when there is a universal complaint that moral standards are deteriorating and that evil is gaining ascendancy. Civilian Bravery Awards are very important as our system is based on the concept of duty rather than the concept of right - social rights rather than individual rights - says Kasun Chandraratne, Attorney-at-law and the President of the Foundation of Civilian Bravery, for whom the objective of the awards is to raise the moral sensitivity, expectations and standards of the Sri Lankan community. "Mere obedience to the law does not mean that one is very moral," he quotes Professor Lon Fuller, an American Jurist, and articulates that one can be a very immoral person, yet still not get into trouble with the law, because the standard of the law is itself very low.
"You can pass by a person in great distress and do nothing about him and the law will not find fault with you," explains Chandraratne. Risk factor both to the doer and the victim or the rescued person is of foremost significance in the evaluation criteria for the awards of civilian bravery. Free-will is also an important characteristic that distinguishes civilian bravery from other acts of heroism. For the award of Gold and Silver medals, acts of bravery during the period January 1 to December 31, 2001 were examined. However, as many other acts of bravery had taken place after the deadline, these had been included and recognized as Awards of Certificates for Civilian Bravery and Letters of Commendation. Chandraratne points out that along with heroic acts they had also experienced the flip side of bravery - the lack of gratitude from some of those individuals whose lives have been saved by others, at the risk their own life and limb. "A civic sense of duty behooves the public to bring to the notice of the Foundation acts of civilian bravery which may otherwise go unnoticed," he says. The Board of Selection for the Civilian bravery Awards, comprised Oliver B. Weerasena, Former High Court Judge; Siri Ranasinghe, Chief Editor, Irida Lankadeepa and Director - Wijaya News Papers Ltd. and Upali Tennakoon, Chief Editor - Divayina and Director - Upali News papers Ltd. Civilian Bravery Awards The heroic feats... Gold Medallist - D.M. Samantha D.M. Samantha of Meegoda, the gold medallist, Civilian Bravery Awards, 2001, recalls his courageous deed that brought him recognition when he least expected, with nostalgia and pain, but says that should he face a similar life and death situation again, he would repeat his feat with no second thought. This is his story of courage and valour: Samantha and his friend Ranjith also from Meegoda, were employed in Moratuwa. On October 27, 1997 they were at the Maharagama Railway Station waiting for a train. As the train was approaching, Ranjit who was on the platform tripped and fell on the rail track and Samantha faced the dilemma of indecision - On the one hand was the fast approaching train and his friend's life literally hanging by a thread. And on the other, his own life to consider. Could he risk his life? Thoughts of his only child and wife at once passed through his mind. The Grim Reaper was just 30 metres away from Ranjith, who was lying on the rail track unable to move. Most of the passengers had shut their eyes tightly, unwilling to witness the approaching tragedy. Smantha had no second thought to spare. Certain that he too faced possible death, he jumped on to the rail track and within seconds was able to move his friend to a position of relative safety. To ensure the safety of Ranjith, Samantha put himself in a traumatic situation, by crouching over his friend and holding on to him until the last wheel of the train passed him by. Though Samantha escaped unharmed, destiny did not favour Ranjith, whose leg was severed by the train. Thirty-six year old Samantha is now a security officer at a private company. Was it the friendship that led him to make such a selfless and courageous action? "No, if it had been somebody else, someone who I had never seen before, I would have acted in the same manner," he says adding that pleasure for him is helping those who are in need. Silver Medallist - Mahesh Udaya Ranasinghe Sixteen year old Mahesh Udaya Ranasighe of Ma Oya was awarded the Silver Medal for his heroic action in saving two people from drowning. On the afternoon of March 12, 2000 Mahesh was at home, with a friend. Nearby the Ma oya gushed in its usual serene splendour. But the serenity was shattered by the shrill cry for help coming from the Oya. Mahesh rushed to the scene and saw two men being dragged by the heavy current of the Oya. The men were from another area and had come in a group to enjoy a day out at the Oya. Mahesh jumped into the river with no thought for his life and was able to rescue both of them. For this selfless and brave deed, he was awarded the Silver Medal of Civilian Bravery. Letters of Commendation - Anusha Pradeep Kumara and D.M. Ananda Nimalasiri On August 6, 2001 a bus packed with pilgrims plunged into Loggala Oya, killing 13 and maiming few others. The day is memorable to many. But it is especially so for two brothers from Dambagolla, Mapakadawewa, Mahiyangana. "We rescued nearly 14 people that day," the two boys aged 13 and 15, and not taller than four feet claim. Anusha Pradeep Kumara (13) and D.M. Ananda Nimalasiri (15), the two brothers were selling maize close to the stream on that fateful day. "Every day, after school we sell maize at the roadside. On that day we saw a bus, tumbling into the river. Both of us ran down to the scene. And then our father who was working at a nearby quarry also rushed to the scene," Anusha recalls. W.M. Jayathilake Banda, the boys' father talks about how three of the drowning men grasped Anusha in hysterical frenzy. For their heroic deed, the boys were awarded Letters of Commendation. What do they think about the Letters of Commendation? With a shy smile Anusha claims that it was very difficult for them to attend the Ceremony and if not for the generosity of Sagara mahattaya, owner of the apparel factory in Gemunupura who brought them to Colombo, in his jeep, they might not have attended the event at all. If the selfless acts of bravery of these two boys is heart warming, their plight is heart wrenching. "If some generous mahattaya or nona learn of our plight and help us to have a life, that is at least marginally better, that will be far more helpful than these awards," Jayathilake says. Jayathilake has four school going children - two boys and two girls. But they have no house to call home. To the question 'where's your home' the brothers who had come bare foot and worn their tattered best say: "We have no house, it is just a room (can't call it a room either) with piled bricks." Winners of the Justice Ranjit N.M. Dheeratne Lifesaving Award During the Crimean war, Florence Nightingale, the lady with the lamp-alleviated the pain and suffering of wounded soldiers thus saving the lives of thousands of soldiers. At the turn of the 21th century, another Nightingale was performing an equally noble deed, saving souls from watery grave. The members of the Students' Lifesaving Clubs of Ananda and Nalanda Colleges, are following in her footsteps. What is it like to be Coast Guards? "It is adventurous, besides it gives us the consolation that no material blessing would give us," says Nivanka Kumarasinghe, the Captain of Ananda College Lifesaving Club and the winner of the `Justice Ranjit N.M. Dheeratne Lifesaving Award, 2001'. Barely 18, Nivanka has saved at least six lives. Nuwan Jayawardhane, Pasan Mendis, Pavithra Kulatilake, Sameera Baptist and Thilina Pitigala are the other award winners from Ananda College and all of them are in eighteen. Eleven members of the Nalanda College Lifesaving Club - Uresh Amerasinghe, Ranjan Dissanayake, Tharanga Vithanage, C.M. Collure, Rajeew Gamage, Amila Sampath, Tharinda Wijesinghe, Thilina Wijesinghe, R.L.C.M Perera, Susantha Gamage and D.C. Bethmage were also winners of the Lifesaving Award. "My parents never interfered or prevented me doing what I like," says Nivanka. "My mother used to accompany me when I first joined the Club and used to wait with me until I finished my duty," chips in Nuwan, while Thilina grumbles: "Appreciation and recognition for Coastal guards are not sufficient at all. "We lack support from the Government," he says, but appreciates every magnanimous gesture of the Principal, the teacher-in-charge and the staff. Other Winners L.S. Samantha (21) of Kamburupitiya who volunteered to save a couple -man and woman - from drowning at the Menik Ganga, Kataragama and G.K.G. Lalith Samaranayake (53) of Panadura, who volunteered to donate a kidney to a stranger without any financial offering are the other two Silver medallists. Yatamagala Gamage Bandusena, a 47-year-old farmer of Karagoda who saved a pregnant cow from drowning was awarded Silver Star Medal. Inscription on Gold was awarded to Rev. Mabulgoda Somarathana Thera and Media appreciation Award was bagged by Edward Dominicon of Ruhunu Sevaya, Matara. Civilian Bravery Appreciation Mementoes were presented to Jayashree Wijeratne and D. Kaluarachchi. |
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Arjun's.
They don't have the vigour and fierceness of a Samurai who passionately
fights for a hero's diadem either. Yet, they are gallants in their own
rights and are worthy of heroic halos.
