Extraordinary yet ordinary

National Civil Bravery Awards 2007:

by Ranga Chandrarathne

It would have been quite an ordinary day of observing Sil (Observing Ten Precepts) at the Sri Upasena Aranya Senasana in Kekirawa, a jungle monastery if not for the hasty chase of an innocent young deer through the monastery by two hunters together with their hunting dogs.

The hapless dear ran for life and reached the Kodiharagama Tank at the end of the monastery. Young Samanera, a novice monk, on hearing Chief of the Monastery Ven. Wethara Sumeda Thero, ran to save the life of the deer. The novice monk followed the deer and reached Kodiharagama Tank bund. There the monk saw hunters were struggling to catch the pray while dogs were trying to attack the deer.

The deer tried to save its life by holding down the two hunters with its horns. However, one hunter severed a horn with his sword-like knife. The hunters then aimed at the deer's throat. On seeing this, the novice monk ran into the scene, putting off one hunter while delivering a kick.

The hunter rolled on the ground and wrestled. By then the Senasana Chief and devotees had gathered around the bund. Realising that prey could not be taken, the hunters disappeared into the jungle with the two horns. Ven. Dhammissara Thera (14 at the time) fought with two armed hunters and succeeded in saving the life of the deer.

Ven. Dhammissara was among the few civilian brave award winners in the year 2006. The Foundation for Civilian Bravery is the only organisation in Sri Lanka awarding civilians who engaged in life threatening daring acts in order to save another person's life.

According to Kasun P Chandraratne, the President of the Foundation for Civilian Bravery the only known incident in Sri Lankan history where a civilian was awarded for bravery was the case of Lord Budal who saved the life of King Vijayabahu the great. In recognising this unique feat of bravery, the Gold Medal for Civilian Bravery was named after Lord Budal.

As the foundation considers "life" as the most valuable gift, civilians who saved others life often endangering their lives are recognised annually as civilian heroes.

Foundation also maintains close links with similar international organisations such as Carnegie Hero Fund Commission of USA and Royal Human Society of US. These international organisations serve as advisory bodies for Foundation of Civil Bravery.

Although international incidents were more emotional, the incidents from Sri Lanka were diverse and inspiring compared to similar instances reported from UK or USA. Any person, who saved some other's life without any obligation to do so, is eligible for civilian bravery awards.

The idea for the foundation was conceived as far back as in 1992 when Kasun read an inspiring article titled "Do not let my father die" in the Readers Digest magazine which he bought from the pavement hawker.

The story was of a nine year old girl saving her father when he suffered a skull injury while having a walk with her. Little girl saved her father's life by taking him to a public place. The girl was awarded God medal for Civilian Bravery by Carnegie Fund Commission and subsequently hounored by then US President Ronald Regan.

I was inspired by the article and thought that we should have a similar organisation in Sri Lanka. My initial idea was that the President should honour the civilian for bravery. As I did not receive a favourable response from the President, I set up a Trust on 13 January 1996.

The annual awards consists of God medal, Silver Medal and Certificates of Commendation, said Kasun P. Chandraratne about how this idea conceived and seeds into a national event.

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