Dignified in true spirit

by Nilma Dole

A misty midnight engulfed the rippling waves of the Indian Ocean when an army passenger boat made its way from the naval base of KKS (Kankasunthurai) to PPD (Point Pedro). Navy Able Seaman D.S.Ariyaratna who was posted to the P465 FAC was transferred to the said passenger boat in order to protect his colleagues of the armed forces.

Time: 0000hrs
Date: 16th September 2001
Location: Near PPD

Observing the waters carefully, they journeyed silently across the sea. However, despite noting their surroundings, the LTTE discovered the boat and went quickly to launch an ambush attack. As the enemy ventured close, they started firing at the navy passenger boat and the soldiers ducked for cover safely hidden in the compartments.

The brave Navy force with Able Seaman Ariyaratna at the main gun, went on rebound on the defensive attack to save their men. Immense fighting continued as the enemy came close and all of a sudden, a direct hit to Able Seaman Ariyaratna’s colleague who was next to him at the main gun set a blow to it.

However, Seaman Ariyaratna wasn’t afraid and continued to fight at the rear gun once the opportunity was there to changeover.

Later, upon reflecting on the incident, he remembers “I was utterly shocked and continued fighting till the end until I was struck down. My whole world collapsed when I lost my eyesight in the left eye”.

Everything drew a blank until he found himself at the army hospital at KKS.

The Navy’s courageous men brought down two powerful LTTE boats and the rest turned away when they knew they lost the fight. Sadly, the navy lost 9 men of a team of nearly 20 with several having injuries. The passenger boat was saved and all 1500 soldiers made a successful journey thanks to the navy team on board the ‘Pride of South’.

Navy Able seaman Ariyaratna is now attached to the Naval Admissions Division as an administration officer despite his eyesight loss. His hometown is Galenbidunuwewa located in the Anuradhapura district but he also grew up in Morawawe which is near the war zone.

Ariyaratna attended the Padikadamadumma Maha Vidyala and is the second out of a family of three boys. His elder brother is in the army but he went to the navy because he had a special liking to venture out into the open sea.

He was an inspiration to his younger brother who has also just joined the armed forces. Now married and with a baby boy, he likes to enlighten children and teenagers on the career of joining the navy and protecting our homeland from the sea.

Able Seaman Ariyaratna’s patriotic words are “I will always continue to help my beloved motherland in whatever way. Even though my eyesight was lost, they cannot take away my dignity”.