Meeting one of the navy’s most decorated officer is definitely an honour.

Cdr Asoka Wijesiriwardane has been decorated with the RWP (RanaWickrama Padakkama) and the RSP (Ranasoora Padakkama) on 7 occasions. Following is one his victorious encounters with the enemy where he took them by surprise, suppressing the transfer of troops to their enemy base in Mullaitivu.

*Date: 6th March 2000
*Location: Trincomalee
*Time: 2330hrs

Cdr Asoka Wijesiriwardane was commanding the P490 which embarked from the Trincomalee base where they were assigned to defend the SLNS Shakthi. By taking their positions in the usual formation comprising 4 FACs on either side, the convoy was on the way with the SLNS Shakthi that was carrying navy personnel from Trincomalee to the north.

2330hrs: The Commander Eastern Naval Area has then detected, under radar movement near the Mullaitivu area and dispatched P490 and P465 to the Black Point area for investigation. “We had to protect the SLNS Shakthi that has another two hours to reach the north and so we headed towards Black Point, suspecting enemy attack”, said Cdr Wijesiriwardane.

2350hrs: Under their radar, P490 detected the movement of 4 clusters from Kokilai moving on the naval route towards the LTTE stronghold of Mullaitivu.

It was believed that each of these clusters had at least 4 enemy attack craft and that it was the transfer of the newly-trained LTTE troop to Mullaitivu.

However, due to a defect in the main armament, the P465 FAC was not in a position to attack the enemy and had to withdraw. With one FAC, the odds were stacked against them and a decision had to be made as to what strategy was going to be implemented because the LTTE boats would reach Mullaitivu within 2 hours. In addition to this, attacking troops during the transfer is difficult because inaccurate target could take place as they move on the sea. “I know I was putting the lives of my 20 men, including my own, at risk but instinct told me that I could pull this off”, reminisced the Commander.

With valiant attempt and a brave heart, Cdr Wijesiriwardane, ambushed the 4 enemy clusters and fired with maximum power. “I was using the main gun system and the rest of my crew used the other weapons onboard”, he said.

Teamwork and dedication made them victorious because the enemy didn’t even have time to think of defending themselves.

One attack craft, one log craft sank and the rest of the craft caught fire with the heavy firing that came from P490. During the engagement, the enemy was determined to withdraw from the area as a result of this surprise fire from P490. Monitoring showed that four officer cadres and six other cadres were dead including 41 injured. This incident remains one of the only confrontations in the navy’s history to take place where one FAC took an enemy fleet by surprise, securing a victory.

Born and bred in Matara, Cdr Asoka Wijesiriwardane studied at Rahula College. He joined the Sri Lanka navy as an cadet officer in August 1988 and trained at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee where he was commissioned an Acting Sub Lieutenant. This distinguished Commander served for more than two years in the Fast Attack Craft Squadron and has led his men to defeat the enemy at every opportunity. Cdr Asoka Wijesiriwardane is married to a lawyer and they have two children.

“The secret of my success during confrontations is the fact that I’m the only OIC who has a loudspeaker in my craft” said the Commander. He said that he describes his tactics with the rest of is men so that they know what strategy he uses against the enemy, making them better prepared to face the challenge. Another trick is that the Commander fights at a close range of 1000m where the usual distance is 2000m. “I’ve even fought at a distance of 400m but have never been intimidated by the enemy”, said Cdr Asoka Wijesiriwardane.

Other brave victories that have paved way for Cdr Asoka Wijesiriwardane to get medals:

*****06th October 1999: Destroyed enemy craft off the Mannar Sea after a long chase

*****7th October 1999: Destroyed a heavily armed enemy attack craft where LTTE’s Charles Anthony brigade leader ‘Nirojon’ was commanding

*****16th February 2000: Destroyed enemy craft in an area close to VTK land

*****06th March 2000: Above incident

******26th March 2000: Acted as the lead boat in sub division and destroyed enemy clusters approaching VTK

******29th March 2000: Masterminded a plan to attack LTTE stronghold Chalai where 8 LTTE enemy craft were destroyed.