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Sri Lanka Army

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14th July 2016 21:37:35 Hours

Hasalaka War Hero’s 25th Death Anniversary Commemorated at Hasalaka & Elephant Pass Memorial

The 25th death anniversary of Corporal Gamini Kularatne, popularly known as ‘Hasalaka Gamini’ who made the supreme sacrifice while defending his formation at Elephant Pass, falls on Thursday (14) and commemorative ceremonies to mark this exceptional bravery were held at two different locations, one at Hasalaka Gamini Memorial at Elephant Pass and the other at his statue at Hasalaka junction,  Mahiyanganaya.

111 Brigade Headquarters of the Security Force Headquarters Central (SFHQ-C) organized the simple ceremony, headed by Brigadier Indrajith Bandara, Commander, 111 Brigade at Hasalaka Gamini statue in the middle of the Hasalaka town. Wreath-laying and military salutes recalled the memories of this brave soldier who remains a symbol of true bravery and courage. The other commemoration got underway at the Hasalaka war memorial at Elephant Pass.

Late Corporal Kularatne’s mother and his family members participated in the ceremony at Hasalaka. Divisional Secretary to Meepe, provincial politicians, students at Ranasinghe Premadasa National School-Hasalaka , senior officers and other ranks attended the event.

Meanwhile, the Security Force Headquarters Kilinochchi (SFHQ-KLN) organized a ceremony, headed by Brigadier Aruna Sudasinghe, Commander, 57 Division, at Hasalaka Gamini’s war memorial at Elephant Pass. Lighting of lamps and placement of flowers at the statue took place at Elephant Pass this evening (14).

Brigade Commanders of all Brigades under the 66 Division, Commanding Officers (COs) of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) under command to the SFHQ-KLN, participated in the event.

This young soldier on that fateful day lobbied a grenade against an LTTE’s explosive -laden truck which was attempting to ram the Elephant Pass Army Camp on July 14, 1991 and perished, foiling the enemy’s attempt of entry into the camp.

In recognition of this act of supreme gallantry, Corporal Kularatne was posthumously awarded the supreme decoration a soldier could earn, the Parama Weera Vibhushana (PWV) Medal.

In 1990s Elephant Pass remained an important target and a strategically sensitive area for control of the Jaffna peninsula. On that decisive night,  over 5,000 LTTE terrorists surrounded the 600-strong Army garrison at Elephant Pass while Corporal Kularatne and his regiment were tasked with surveillance duties for any possible LTTE infiltrators.

At dusk, the Tigers tried a new tactic, sending an armoured fighting vehicle, a converted Caterpillar bulldozer, to break the defence line. Heavy weapons mounted on the bulldozer hammered the defenders and LTTE terrorists slowly moved up along their demarcated path, smashing a bunker and finally the bulldozer broke through the forward defence line.

He ran amidst heavy crossfires between the next line of defence and attacking Tigers. Kularatne kept on running until he reached the rear side of the oncoming armoured bulldozer and scaled its ladder. Hauling himself onto the armoured bulldozer, Kularatne used his grenades to kill the four-man crew, blowing up with the explosions. Thus, the passage of the LTTE bulldozer was stalled.

Late Lance Corporal Kularatne was found dead on the road by his comrades later on as the dawn fell after the fighting. Corporal Kularatne was born in 1966 as the second son of a family of four brothers and a sister. He obtained his primary education from Ranasinghe Premadasa Madhya Maha Vidyalaya, Hasalaka. He joined the Army in 1987 as a rifleman of 6 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment.

The memorial to Hasalaka War Hero was later set up at Elephant Pass with the remnants of the very bulldozer he destroyed after the war was over.