Bracing against the storm of defeat

Lance Corporal Rajapaksa R.M.C.R was a brave action soldier who overcame the odds to suppress an enemy attack amidst severe challenges. However, as fate may have it, he was killed in the attack.

Date: 4th December 2007
Time: 1230hrs
Location: Mannaram

Lance Corporal Rajapaksa

A four member team was despatched to the area of Mannaram, headed by Lance Corporal Ranaweera was heavily under attack by the LTTE after their bunkers were being cleared. Reinforcements were called because the team was dispersed in an open area in the forest and was difficult to keep the Tigers at bay because every time a soldier turned up, death was certain from the attacks.

While the enemy was using full firepower, Lance Corporal Ranaweera called for reinforcements to help them suppress the enemy. As the Lance Corporal was stuck down in his vain attempt to salvage the situation, Lance Corporal Rajapaksa who was in the front, tried his best to defeat the LTTE by using whatever weapons were available at hand.

However, after an intense struggle, Lance Corporal Rajapaksa was hit in his right leg and rolled over all the while asking for help through Lance Corporal Ranaweera. Reinforcements came in the form of an eight-member team under the command of Lance
 

Corporal Thilak W.K.P.S. Assigned to help his injured comrades, he took charge of the situation by covering the ground safely, camouflaged by blending in the foliage to get to his comrades. Careful instructions were given to every man and they were quick enough to locate the area where their colleagues were hiding.

'We cleared a pass where we crawled on our bellies and then suddenly lost communication with our comrades as a result of the approach of the enemy', he said. However undeterred, they pressed on with the intention of saving their men. Eventually, one of the members of that team, Corporal Sarath was found with injuries to the head but with his pulse beating.

Near the bunkers

Lance Corporal Thilak said, 'We took him in safely and sent him back to the camp when we heard Lance Corporal Rajapaksa's voice crying out for help?. They quickly went over but the enemy suspected movements and started firing about 4 metres away from the bunker. At this moment, more attack was coming from all sides and a strategy had to be found, otherwise it would have been impossible to save their men.

Even though Lance Corporal Thilak was in a crouching position, he was shot on his left leg. Corporal Thilak mustered enough courage to get near Corporal Rajapaksa despite both being injured at this point.

Army soldiers searching the area

However, as fate may have it, in the midst of the fighting, Lance Corporal Rajapaksa said that it wasn't necessary to save him but to continue to crush the enemy.With great courage and determination the team that came in as reinforcements did finally secure a victory and came to the aid of all those who were injured. They were rushed to the base where they were admitted to the Army Hospital.

Lance Corporal Thilak reminisces, 'Even though I joined the armed forces in 1999 and Lance Corporal Rajapaksa joined in 1998, we were very close comrades and trained together in Kudawe'. He hails from Ambewela near Nuwara Eliya and was married to his childhood sweetheart. Sadly at the time of his demise, his wife was pregnant with a baby girl.

Lance Corporal Thilak comments ?Lance Corporal Rajapaksa was a brave fighter who did the job he was assigned to and would never say ?No? to anything. He was courageous and determined to strive on even during a challenge?. For services rendered for the army, he was posthumously awarded the PWWP and the RWP medals.