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| Sunday, 20 July 2003 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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The extraordinary courage of ordinary people by Neomi Kodikara
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 13.15) It is what the Bible says about intrepid men who manifest human nobility, with deeds that are courageous and impressive. This value was expressed by 40 Sri Lankans, who thus earned their place on the hero's pedestal. Yet, this is not the bravery in the battlefield that has been rewarded and recognized in all historical situations in all periods of history. They all were elevated to the calibre of `heroes of Sri Lanka' for saving fellow citizens, displaying bravery and selflessness. The bravest of them all was D.V. Lasantha Buddika from Bentota, who earned the Gold medal for saving the life of Ranjani Hemalatha, a vendor. Sadly, the Angel of death spared her life, and hung on to his innocent life. H. M. Dinesh Padmakumara, K. Premalal Silva and K. Edward Perera who saved three people from drowning; W. A. Jayaweera who averted a catastrophe; members of the Life Saving Clubs of Ananda, Nalanda, Richmond and Don Bosco Colleges; M. T. Subasingha, D. S. Assalaarachchi, A. P. J. Prithilal and A. N. Lokuwithana, Fire fighters ....... all earned their hero's diadem. The feats, dramatic and dauntless, went beyond the call of family obligation, altruism and loyalty were demonstrated in various degrees by these heroes awarded medals and certificates. Gold Medallist - D. V. Lasantha Buddika D. V. Dharmadasa, late Buddika's father recalls his son's courageous deed that brought him honour as well as life time agony, with nostalgia and pain. Twenty-five year old Buddika, the youngest of his three children, was a Quality Controller at a garment factory. Buddika excelled both in his studies and extra curricular activities and was the Head Prefect of Elakaka Maha Vidyalaya. He was an instructor in Karate and was awaiting the results of the entrance examination of the Law College. Last September 11 he was returning home around 9.00 p.m. after the day's work. "My son was a very kind-hearted, sympathetic, amicable person. He never failed to share a word with anybody he met," Dharmadasa says. Buddikka got down from the bus at Kanahenthota Junction. Constant news of robbers has terrorised the vicinity during those days. A vendor at the village fair, Ranjani Hemalatha (46) was a fellow passenger who sought Buddika's assistance to be escorted to her home. He walked with her up to the lane that leads to her home. Her house was just a few metres away. Buddika turned back after assuring her "Nande, don't worry, nothing will happen to you now, anyway if something goes wrong, you shout and I will be there." In a moment he heard her scream, "aney puthe ma bera ganno." (oh, son save me) Without sparing a second he ran to her. Some gangsters were attempting to grab Ranjani's purse which contained her day's earnings. While Buddika was fighting with them Ranjani escaped with minor injuries. The gangsters were able to overpower him by stabbing him in the abdomen and throat. He was killed on the spot. "I thought it was robbers who were fighting over their shares, I ran for my dear life," Ranjani says. The night resumed her usual quietness. Meantime, Buddika's parents and sister had an uneasy fear. "He has never been that late," his father recalls. It was only on the following morning they found him lying dead, on a road side. "That was a residential area, if those residents at least had lights on in their houses, the gangsters would have run away and this disaster would have been averted," he regrets. He accuses the police being lethargic. "They still could not arrest the murderers." Results of Law college entrance examination came by post on the day of three-months alms giving. He had passed the examination. Dharmasena's fingers tremble as he shows us that tattered results-sheet. Silver Medallists - H. . Dinesh Padmakumara, K. Premalal Silva and K. Edward Perera
It was a Monday. The time was around 10.30 a.m. Dinesh Padmakumara could not find any work that day. Little Harini was pleased as Punch to see her father at home. She finally badgered him to take her to see Dandugam oya. In a few minutes they were on the bridge, watching raging waters. "Today, she seems violent," he thought. In a second he saw a car, came running, thrown into the stream. The car was sinking. Dinesh remembered the three people in the car, a young couple and their infant. Could he risk his life? Thoughts of his two children and wife at once passed through his mind. The man however, opened a door of the car and came out with the little child. Being not a good swimmer he was trying desperately not to drown while the car was sinking with the woman in 60 feet deep waters. This part of the stream is not used by villagers, as it was too deep and full of savage crocodiles. Yet, these fears could not make Dinesh turn his back on the calamity about to occur right in front of his eyes. With a shout for help he jumped into the water. Premalal Silva and Edward Perera, who were on the bridge heard him. The current was heavy and dangerous, and the man with the child was bobbing up and down and being carried away by the fast flowing current. Although having no diving experience they volunteered to go to their assistance. They managed to drag the man and child to the bank and they towed the woman by her hair out of the sinking car to the surface. Dinesh Padmakumara (39), Premalal Silva (36) and K. Edward Perera (44) residents of Ja-Ela and Ekala struggle with odd jobs to make ends meet. "Mere recalling of the incident now freezes me," says Dinesh but adds that should he face a similar life and death situation again, he would repeat his feat with no second thought. Letter of Commendation for Civilian Bravery W. A. Jayaweera's discerning action averted a catastrophe. While he was driving his lorry containing coir, via Lunuwila junction, to his horror he found out, the rear of the lorry was burning. The interior was already engulfed in flames and he knew if he stops the vehicles to save his life, the flames will break out at the nearby filling station, vehicles, shops and passengers. Amid deteriorating conditions despite the intense heat and close flames, he drove it about two miles to Lunuwila reservoir. Finally with the assistance of few others he managed to douse the flames. This bunch of students perform an equally noble deed, saving souls from watery graves. The members of the Students' Lifesaving Clubs. Among two dozen boys there was seated a girl, bold and beautiful. She is R.Krishani So what is it like for a girl, being a Coast Guard? "It is adventurous, besides it gives me the consolation that no material blessings would give," she says. A student of Don Bosco College, Wattala she is the only girl among 300 Life Guards in the area. "Girls are very reluctant to enter the field. May be due to parent's opposition, even I had to face the same situation, but I somehow convinced my parents that there is nothing to worry, I am capable of doing this, now they are on my side, very supportive" not only bold and beautiful she is loquacious too. Barely 18, Krishni has saved at least 12 lives. "The most unforgettable experience is saving my friend, when both his legs cramped while swimming. I had to cross a reef dragging him, that was highly risky." She the youngest of a family of two sisters and two brothers, wants to do well in her studies. In terms of military achievements bravery was a component of destruction. But Civilian Bravery is to ensure the continuity of life,"says Kasun Chandraratne, Attorney-at-law and the President of the Foundation of Civilian Bravery. The objective of the Civilian Bravery Awards is to raise the moral sensitivity, expectations and standards of the Sri Lankan community. Awards are very important as our system is based on the concept of duty rather than the concept of right - social rights rather than individual rights. It is believed to stimulate the uplifting of moral standards of the society where evil prevails. "One reason for us to establish a foundation of this kind is the experiences of the flip side of bravery - the lack of gratitude from some of those individuals whose lives have been saved by others, at the risk their own life and limb," he says reminding that it behoves the public to bring to the notice of the Foundation acts of civilian bravery which may otherwise go unnoticed. The Board of Selection for the Civilian bravery Awards, comprises Oliver B. Weerasena, Former High Court Judge; Siri Ranasinghe, Chief Editor, Irida Lankadeepa and Director-Wijaya News Papers Ltd. and Upali Tennakoon, former Chief Editor- Divayina and Director- Upali News papers Ltd. For the awards, acts of bravery during the period January 1 to December 31, 2002 were examined. Risk factor both to the doer and the victim or the rescued person is of foremost significance in the evaluation criteria for the awards of civilian bravery. Free-will is also an important characteristic that distinguishes Civilian Bravery from other acts of heroism. The acts of civilian bravery could be shown in three basic ways. Firstly, as a voluntary act of a civilian, secondly as an act where an effort has been made to save a life in danger, and thirdly, an act where a person is seen in a human deed disregarding the risk to his own life. Founded in 1993, it has had ten annual ceremonies where awards had been given away for brave civilians, in the form of gold medals,silver medals, merit certificates and media awards. Congratulatory letters have been flooding into the foundation for its performances from institutions of this kind all over the world.The continuance of this foundation depends, according to Chandraratne, basically on voluntary contributions. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, business people and media persons have reached out their helping hand generously. |
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