Corporal Prasad G.H.J. is a weapons instructor at the Air Force Training Camp, Diyatalawa. Following is an account of one of his brave experiences where he defeated an LTTE leader who was one of the intelligence informants.

Date:         7th July 1999
Time:         1630hrs
Location:   Kanthurai

As the day of July 7 dawned, on the Kanthurai FDL (Forward Defence Line), Corporal Prasad was busy leading a team of six which had been assigned with the task of protecting the lines from enemies. They were followed by a support team at a safe distance who were also on the look out for suspicious activities.

"We were guarding the Defence Lines when we heard a rustle in the jungle coming from the Mundimurruku road that leads to Vavuniya", recalled the Corporal. They crept stealthily towards the road and located the voices coming from a barely visible footpath leading to the jungle.

"We were at a distance of about 15 metres from the LTTE band that included three", he said. From the look of things, the LTTE cadres seemed to have been part of the LTTE intelligence unit that collects data and survey of the area of the Air Force for future battle strategies. "We saw them mapping locations on their devices and taking positions via GPS. They didn't seem to be trained fighters unlike us who were mentally and physically ready to tackle any challenge" the Corporal beamed.

Thereafter, Corporal Prasad made his way towards the enemy on his own to launch an ambush attack, hoping to take them by surprise. Some dead tree logs were in the way so I had to jump over and it was at this time that the cadres saw me and started hurtling hand grenades. Corporal Prasad's comrades thinking of the worst were now on the defence by using their weapons against the cadres."However, eventhough the cadres fired at me, they weren't successful in their attack and I sought refuge under a thicket" said the Corporal.

From the corner of his eye, as the cadres presumed that the Air Force men were dead, Corporal Prasad went on the rebound to fire at the LTTE cadres using his T56 weapon. "I fired with every ounce of energy left in me and somehow wanted nothing more than neutralising them" he said.

Then and there, the cadres were struck down and it was then that Corporal Prasad realised that the LTTE team's leader was burnt to death by his own weapon."When I found the leader's body, he defused two hand grenades. One was for the device he had with him to carry information, which was his lifeblood and the other, he detonated in a suicidal attempt" said Corporal Prasad. It was apparent that the leader's choice was to surrender or die, of which he chose the latter. After the confrontation, the Corporal's comrades were happy to see him alive and confirmed that the other two cadres were also struck down with the intense firing, seeming that they were unprepared.

"The success of overcoming this attack was that I received good advice from my comrades like Corporal Cooray and Corporal Rathnasiri, who were in my team", said the Corporal. They uncovered a loot of food, civilian clothes, 8 handbombs and some weapons including several technological devices that the LTTE used to help gather information about their camp. "We destroyed all modes of communication when we found the loot" said Corporal Prasad.

When the LTTE bodies were given back by the Air Force through the Red Cross, they refused to claim them. "It was like more of a shame to them because these LTTE spies were especially sent to gather important information for the enemy and that they were of no use to the LTTE after their death concluded the Corporal.

Corporal Prasad hails from the town of Welawawe and he joined the Air Force whilst studying for his A/L. "As I was the only son in my family, I had to face opposition from my parents in joining the Air Force but I was determined to make it through", he reminisces. Even though his relatives from his mother's side are in the armed forces, he had to brave his own challenges to make his mark.

"I joined the Air Force in 1998 and underwent immense training with the Air Force by following all required courses and obtaining the needed qualifications to cement my career", he said.

Corporal Prasad says that the Air Force is the best place to learn about fighting skills because you are mentally and physically trained in overcoming challenges. "I initially never realised how much I can learn from the Air Force but once I made it, the experience was invaluable to me" said the Corporal. Today, Corporal Prasad is a Weapons Instructor, of Air Force cadets to handle and understand various fighting tools to brave the storm in the face of fire. His wife is a former Air Force officer and now is at home bringing up their two sons. Corporal Prasad has been garnered with the title of RSP for services rendered to his beloved motherland.