Former Army Commander has forgotten life saviour

Premawathi is still grieving and Wilson has not overcome the shock of loosing their beloved son. "Fonseka 'mahattaya' still lives because of my son. He seems to have forgotten that. At least even after retiring he didn't even bother to come and see how we are faring. It gives me the feeling that he is very insensitive," said 61 year old W.A. Premawathi, the mother of a remarkable war hero, Corporal O.K.D. Priyanjan Viraj, one of the two who saved the life of the former Army Commander from a LTTE suicide attack.

The fateful day was April 25, 2006 the day on which a LTTE female suicide bomber targeted the Army Commander, at the Army Headquarters while he was moving out from the office. Sergeant Y.L.A.C.R. Yakandawala and Corporal O.K.D. Priyanjan Viraj attached to the Sri Lanka Army's Military Police were moving on their bikes in front of the vehicle General Fonseka was travelling. If these two Corporals could not push the female suicide bomber away it would have been the end of his life.

The LTTE was determined to degrade the morale of the Armed Forces and destroying the Army Commander was the best option for them at that time. Yet, because of these two valiant soldiers, the LTTE missed their target even with severe injuries the Army Commander's life was saved; Yakandawala and Viraj died. The media reported it a loud and clear. They received the due honour from the Sri Lanka Army following its esteem. Yet what happened after that until recent times would definitely break any heart even with the slightest compassion.

Mother W.A. Premawathi

Father O.K.D. Wilson

Corporal Viraj, a typical village boy was born and brought up in Goluwamulla in Elpitiya and even today the family and the entire village fondly remembers the brave young man. What they say is different from what we hear over mass media.

The mother Premawathi and father O.K.D. Wilson (72) lost their son forever and made them feel to be the loneliest couple. Wilson, a retired Government servant who was not feeling well, recalled the painful loss of his son who could have been their strength in their old age if ever he lived so far. "My son did his duty and saved the life of the Fonseka. Yet he has forgotten it," said Wilson as tears welled in his eyes. "I know my son did his duty but my dear sir, we Sinhalese are truly grateful people and to us it seems Fonseka is unaware of the fact," he said.

"I see Fonseka talking much about war heroes on TV and elsewhere. Yet, he never visited us after we lost our son who sacrificed his life to save him. Neighbours and relatives said he will come to see us after retirement yet he never appeared.

His home town is Ambalangoda and we are in Elpitiya a few kilometers away from his place. If he cannot remember the sacrifice my son did for him, his talks about war heroes are just fake stories.

We truly feel that and we want to reveal this truth to the country. His promises to war heroes and their welfare are all a bunch of lies," Wilson said endlessly. To him what we hear as statements from the Presidential Candidate Sarath Fonseka and what he is experiencing is contradictory. He questions about the trustworthiness of a person who aspires to be the future leader of the country. Will he ever care for the war heroes when he has already forgotten the brave soldier who sacrificed his young life to save his life.

"I humbly request all the parents and families of war heroes not to believe in these false promises. Though he pledges to care for families like ours if he becomes the President, I perfectly know it is just another lie," Wilson stressed.

Corporal Priyanjan Viraj was married to Poornima Wickramasinghe and was the father of a little daughter. Today she is studying in Year 2 in the Baddegama Kristhudewa Vidyalaya. Unfortunately at the time of the visit of the media personnel Poornima had accompanied her daughter to Colombo. O.K.D. Priyangani, Corporal Viraj's elder sister reminded us what he told her about his Commander before his death. "My brother always spoke about him. Army officials told us that it was my brother who prevented Fonseka's death," Priyangani said. "As 'malli' told us Fonseka had a short temper. But my brother has been an obedient soldier to him," she said.

She further said that the entire village believed that Fonseka would request their parents to come to the rally held recently at Ambalangoda and at least thank them. "Some, trusting him so much, said he would even come and visit our humble house. He never did," Priyangani said with lament and grief. "Every one questions whether he will truly care for the war heroes when he himself has forgotten the soldier who died for him. Everyone is now fed up of hearing his promises," she added.

A close relative of Corporal Viraj, Sumanadasa Vithanarachchi (49) spoke very emotionally about his beloved cousin brother. "The Army officers did everything for my brother except Fonseka. My cousin was protecting Fonseka working very close to him. But he never bothered at least to be grateful to his parents. If such person becomes the President only gods can save us," he said with so much anger.

"Fonseka only wants power. He does not want to serve people or war heroes. His words are full of hatred," Sumanadasa said.

Dayasiri Simon, the Chairman of the Goluwamulla 'Sumithuro' Organization and a retired Agrarian Instructor came forward to speak on behalf of the villagers. "We strongly believed Fonseka would personally look after this family," Simon added.

"We are staying in a village very close to Fonseka’s home town Ambalangoda. We saw when Minister Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was killed that his wife, while her husband's body was at home, went to see the families of the dead body guards and attended the funerals. Such a gesture is very valuable to a grieving family," he said.

"He could have looked after, at least paid a visit, at least after retirement. We as villagers, see that Fonseka has no gratefulness. Thus we strongly believe he is not suitable to be a leader, especially for our country," Dayasiri Simon said further.