‘Heroes Forever’ is a series dedicated to Army, Air Force, Navy and the Police personnel who have gone beyond the call of duty. This is our token of appreciation on behalf of the whole nation to recognize their courage and determination. Nilma Dole [email protected]

Time        : 0130hrs
Date       : 02nd August 1994
Location : Palali Air Force Base

It was in the early hours of an April morning when Sergeant Peiris took his position in front of the main guard tower at the Palali Base.

"I was part of a 4-member team and it was our duty to defend", he said. Just past 0100hrs, a shattering explosion was heard from afar.

"We all took our defensive positions to brace ourselves against a potential enemy confrontation. So we loaded our weapons and held our breath in silence to determine the next move," recalled the Sergeant.

"Thereafter, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that some of our Air Force comrades on the other side of the defence line near the tower were investigating what was happening yonder," he went on. It was believed to be LTTE aircraft dropping bombs to attack the base and the LTTE was now trying their best to penetrate the area. "In retaliation, our Commanders gave the green light to send one of our choppers to suppress the LTTE aircraft should it do damage," he said.

Giving the LTTE a taste of their own medicine was the strategy employed by the Air Force. "An Air Force helicopter was flown near the area where the LTTE aircraft was last seen," said the Sergeant Peiris went down memory lane.

"It is no secret that the LTTE aircraft are not as sophisticated as we would normally think," he said. So it was an easy task to bring down the LTTE aircraft which was easily neutralised.

"Our chopper managed to attack the light-weight LTTE aircraft with effective bombs and this made the aircraft crash land," he leafed back.

Thereafter, according to sightings on radar, the Air Force believed the LTTE terrorists onboard the aircraft had an emergency escape even though the aircraft was badly damaged.

"Our alternate team was deployed to scour the bushes for suspected terrorist casualties and if not any possible signs of escape and report or take action," he further reminisced. "Our team had to guard the tower and keep a lookout for signs of enemy trespassing."

While investigating the area around, the team heard some of the cadres crying in Tamil asking those who were saved from the confrontation to join them in escaping. "This confirmed our suspicions and now we knew what way they were trying to penetrate our boundary," he said.

"Very soon, I saw two faint figures approaching from the horizon and then when we looked closer it was two LTTE cadres coming around from the side of the line so we immediately took aim and fired," said Sergeant Peiris. They saw them clearly when these terrorists crouched on their bellies and slithered across the barbed wire which demarcated the border.

They quickly brought down the cadres from quite a distance and the Sergeant says, "We could see that they were struck down after we fired because there was a final blast which signalled the end". Thereafter, the Army troops in armoured vehicles came and investigated the remains where the LTTE aircraft was seen and recovered the loot which consisted of weapons, communication devices and a few battle essentials.

"Our Air Force helicopters which were flying overhead went back after a successful victory", concluded an ebullient Sgt. Peiris.

Sergeant Peiris hails from the town of Madampe, Ambalangoda and he attended the Madampe Central College. He joined the Air Force right after his O/L's because he had a strong ambition to serve his motherland. He trained at Morawewa and also Sigiriya, counting nearly 20 years of service. Sergeant Peiris says that by joining the Air Force, he has learned a lot in a specialised sphere. He is married to a teacher and has two children. Presently, he is serving at the Air Force Headquarters as a specialist in Bomb Disposing.

"It is a risk when there is a bomb found in the city because I have to intelligently detonate it. So I am happy to serve where I can use my knowledge to the best of my ability," he vows.