‘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]

Corporal T.K. Sanath was a brave fighter who overcame all odds to help protect his country. He was by nature a good defence fighter. His position on guard at the FDL (Forward Defence Lines) with his comrade Corporal Hemantha was a job he took quite seriously. His team members knew they could rely on him while on guard during sudden confrontations. He had superb sense, vision in the dark and knew how to tackle any LTTE trespasser in the FDL.

Time      : 0300hrs
Date      : 23rd February 2002
Location: Manikulum FDL

It was in the wee hours of the morning just before

daybreak when Corporal Sanath was on duty he thought he had heard a faint rustling sound in the bushes. Suspecting an LTTE trespasser in the FDL, he kept his ears strained to listen as to where the sound had come from.

Sure enough, the rustle grew closer and even though it was pitch dark, Corporal Sanath relied on his ears to determine as to whether he could locate the LTTE cadre. At the back of his mind, he wasn't sure whether it could have been even one of his men who was loitering.

Eventually, he crept stealthily on his belly to avoid his shadow revealing his movements and managed to crawl closer. But, at this point, the rustling stopped and instead there was a snapping sound of twigs. With built-up courage in the dark, Corp Sanath drew himself up from his hiding place and took the great risk of landing flat on the trespasser.

At this moment, he flashed his pen torch on the man's face and confirmed his suspicion by the dangling cyanide capsule. With a tough struggle after taking the cadre by surprise, he managed to land a blow at the side of the cadre's face. The cadre went on the defensive and tried to reach for his weapon. "With intense training they had given in the army, I learnt proper discipline and the defence moves and landed the heaviest blow which made the terrorist lose control of himself," said the Corporal. Corporal Sanath overpowered him by shooting him in the leg and then he handed him over to the Navy for information gathering. He said "I handed him over and it was discovered that he was the first cadre to break through the FDL to neutralise the army soldiers to allow more cadres to come in". However, the enemy plan was foiled with Corporal Sanath's intrusion.

Corporal T.K. Sanath hails from the town of Ambatenna and attended the local school there. He is the youngest of a family of three, who said that he was inspired to join the armed forces because his father was a fallen hero. "It was not because of revenge that I joined the armed forces but for the patriotism and courage. My father did everything he could to serve his country which made him a hero and I was inspired to take after him" he said.

Corporal Sanath joined the army right after his A/Ls. He says that joining the army makes you mentally and physically stable and protecting your beloved motherland is the greatest service one can do. Corporal Sanath has been awarded the RSP for his services. He continues to serve the forces and hopes to be there for as long as he can.