Bravery

All throughout his career:

Prologue:

In 1995, Air Force officials decided to advance the Forward Defence Line (FDL) of the Palali Air field unit, since the FDL was too close to the unit, making it susceptible to artillery and mortar attacks by the LTTE. After six days of capturing new ground, the LTTE was unfortunately capable of recapturing the area.

Then, Leading Aircraftsman M.T.K Dharmawardana was on stand by in the Palali Air Field unit for rescue operations and Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera was engaged in supporting the ground troops on the advancement of the FDL.

He received his education at D.S. Senanayake College and was a leading schoolboy cricketer. After he left school he played for the Nomads Sports Club. He got married in 1994 October 20.

Date: July 14, 1995

Time: 0730 hrs

Location: FDL Palali Air field unit

Palali Air Field unit received the message that the Pukara carrying Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera had gone down in LTTE territory. Squadron leader Commander Buwaneka Abeysooriya, Leading Aircraftsman M.T.K Dharmawardana and their team was called upon to launch a swift and major rescue operation.

According to radar displays the Pukara had gone down in the Alaweddi area. Air Force intelligence strongly believed that Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera was still alive.

But his life was at stake because he had gone down in enemy territory. Consequently a brisk rescue mission could mean a difference between life and death for Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera.

Squadron leader Buwaneka Abeysooriya and a team of eight, including Leading Aircraftsman M.T.K Dharmawardana took a helicopter to the location where the Pukara was said to have crashed.

Leading Aircraftsman M.T.K Dharmawardana joined the Air Force in 1989. He received a six year training at Diyatalawa and was stationed in Ampara in 1994. By 1995 he had five years experience in the front lines.

The helicopter reached the crash site from Mallagama direction. They landed at a safe distance from where the aircraft crashed, just five minutes after it was reported. They all hoped that Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera would be alive and did not want to risk the LTTE discovering him, before they did.

The eight manned team planned their entry to the area, referring to a map and made their way to the site on foot. They knew that they were putting themselves at the mercy of the enemy. The LTTE knows that any crash landing will bring forth rescue operations.

When they got there the LTTE was already engaged in combat with the Army. “The Pukara was already burning by the time we got there.” said Leading Aircraftsman M.T.K Dharmawardana.

Although they hoped that Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera would still be alive, it was not so. “We pulled out a sack from one of the abandoned houses in the area and tried to extinguish the fire”.

After retrieving the body with difficulty the team had a distance of nearly one km, scattered with anti-personnel mines, where they were to rendezvous with the helicopter.

Squadron leader Buwaneka Abeysooriya was the team’s only contact with the helicopter, that was to come and pick them up again.

It was a jungle area but there was a village and a few people could also be detected. Dogs from the village were barking at the team, threatening to blow their cover.

The team had to be extremely careful to cover their trail, not to leave any sign behind, that the LTTE could trace back to their whereabouts. By this time the LTTE was firing at the team with mortars. The whole mission lasted around two to three hours.

Epilogue:

The lost ground of the FDL was reestablished by the Air Force in a matter of days. Leading Aircraftsman M.T.K Dharmawardana, who was now a sergeant, was awarded a Rana Sura Padakkama for his act of bravery. Throughout Lieutenant Dilhan Perera’s career in the Air Force he contributed to the country in numerous commendable operations.

He was killed by the LTTE, in year 1995, July 14. This week’s token of recognition is dedicated to Flight Lieutenant Dilhan Perera who sacrificed his life to defend the nation.