Nilma DOLE

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Fighter with a keen sense

Corporal Karunayake who is now posted in the air force security division at the Colombo Airport, Katunayake was a jungle fighter overcoming rugged terrain to destroy terrorists lurking in the hidden corners.

Time : 0600hrs
Date : 22nd July 1992
Location: Omanthai, Vavuniya

Assigned by their commander to patrol the FDL, Corporal Karunayake was assigned to dutifully guard the area should it fall prey to the clutches of the terrorists. Together with a 10 member team, they were supposed to start watch from 8 a.m. onwards and were given the cue to wait in ambush.

Air Force Base

It was at around 6 a.m. that while they were washing themselves that they discovered three LTTE terrorists hiding in the jungle due to the fact that a grenade was thrown at them. “Luckily enough, we weren’t harmed because their aim was miscalculated due to the fact that their location was well hidden and so they missed us” said the Corporal. However, the air force men were taken by surprise but they didn’t falter and went on the defensive attack by taking their weapons in their hands to determine where the position of the enemy was.

Afterwards, one of Corporal Karunayake’s colleagues discovered that amongst the thicket of thorny bushes was a clearing which was suspected to be where the enemy was seeking refuge. Upon discovering this, the 10 men were now alert with senses and started firing with massive power that one of the LTTE cadres who was now fleeing the scene was struck down.

The other two were now trying to camouflage themselves and was within 25 metres away from his dead colleague. Quick to notice this escape plan, Corporal Karunayake quickly threw a hand grenade at the LTTE cadres and almost instantly he fell down.

Brave Fighter looking up at the sky

The rest of the 10 member team drew a line which separated the safe area to the place where the terrorists were lurking. Carefully they hid in the jungle and prepared to ambush the last of the three member terrorist team by launching a surprise attack with maximum firepower which took the last terrorist by surprise.

He was struck down as he was climbing to the opposite direction to possibly fire at the air force soldiers. “All in all, it was a good thing we were always on our guard and alert even though we were washing ourselves in the morning. As a soldier you need to have a keen sense otherwise your life will be at stake”, says Corporal Karunayake. They uncovered the terrorists’ radio box which they quickly destroyed, weapons like T56s and hand bombs including some rations and clothing.

Corporal Karunayake hails from the town of Hathaddeliya and attended the Rambukkana Maha Vidyalaya till he completed his O/L. Having 5 siblings, one of his sisters is married to a soldier but for the Corporal, it was the instilled patriotism he had that drew him to join the armed forces.

He says “I always liked to join the armed forces from a young age and once the decision was to choose the air force, I thought I made the best decision”. From 1996, Corporal Karunayake has been of service to the nation and has trained at China Bay and been posted at various locations around the country fighting for his beloved motherland in whatever way he can. “Our President can defeat terrorism and it is this fact that I request for anyone joining the armed forces is that victory will be ours soon” he concluded.

For services rendered, Corporal Karunayake has been awarded the RSP.