Nilma DOLE
[email protected]
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.
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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.
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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. |