The biker accelerated his two wheeled machine, up the ramp 30 feet long and 7.9 feet high. It started its flight and easily cleared the rotating main rotor of a helicopter, stopping the heartbeat of the spectators for a fraction of a second. The rider had performed the stunt with so much ease and landed well away from the helicopter, indicating that he can do better stunts. The biker who performed was a youngster named Buddhika Kasun Silva.
The minimum age to join the Sri Lanka Army is 18 years. Buddhika Silva from Galle joined the Army exactly on his 18th birthday on May 7, 2014. This is a milestone in the life of a lad from Galle who has an extraordinary story to tell. What makes his story standout is that he is from an ordinary family.
His father Keerthi Silva had trained his two sons Yohan and Buddhika to ride bikes from a very young age, with the help and encouragement of their mother Dhammika Wanigasekera. They lacked the financial strength, but were inherently talented. Yohan Rajith Silva, now 24 years, had started to show his talents on a ST50 when he was five years old. Even at that young age, he took part in a competition in Bandarawela and defeated well-known competitors.
However, the detractors who were rattled by the performance of the youngster imposed a new age limit, by raising it to 18 years, to enter the competition, depriving him of the chance to compete. Yohan continued to practice and in 2001 won a race at Diyavanna Super Cross, at the tender age of 10.
His younger brother Buddhika, followed in his footsteps. He started his career very young. He rode a 50CC bike at Diyatalawa Fox Hill in 2004 and came first. He was 6 years old then. Two years later, he came first at Gunner Super Cross at Boyagane. His elder brother also took part in the competition. Both of them had been coached by their father Keerthi Silva.
Theirs was a journey full of obstacles and challenges. Their bikes were tampered with and this happened a few times before competitions. However, the resolve of the brothers was unshakable as they achieved success after success, repeatedly.
Despite those who hindered them, there was another group of people who were extremely interested in them. Among them was Buddhika. They were under ‘surveillance’ by these talent scouts, who belonged to several regiments of Sri Lanka Army. However, no regiment could employ them since the youngster were under the age of 18.
Army Chief of Staff and Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Signal Corps Major General Prasad Samarasinghe was eager to improve the Searchlight Tattoo Team of his regiment. Perhaps the fact that the Tattoo Team Commander Major Udaya Hewawasam hailed from the same area as Keerthi Silva may have helped the cause. However, when Buddhika turned 18, the Signal Corp recruited him.
Last July, Buddhika contested the Gunners’ Super Cross in a 125 CC bike and won the third place, defeating many champion riders. Most of his opponents rode 250 CC bikes, which gave more value to Buddhika’s achievement. His regiment presented him with a 250 CC bike and thus equipped, he started showing his true colors.
Fear seems to be a stranger to Buddhika. He showcased his jumping skills by sailing over the rotating blades of a helicopter rotor at Nawalapitiya Searchlight Tattoo recently, stopping the heartbeat of thousands of spectators. However, Buddhika did it with so much ease and is confident that he can jump over rotating blades of two helicopters. His superiors, worried over his safety, did not allow him to try this feat.
Today Buddhika and his elder brother Yohan live with their parents in Habarakada. Their home is full of trophies brought by the two brothers. Yohan, now 24, has shown his talents and won many accolades. In 2003, he was the Under 13 winner at Foxhill. He won the 85 CC bike race in 2005 and 2006. Also he was later the 125 CC motor bike race winner at Foxhill. Joining the Military Police, he took part in the 60th anniversary celebrations of the army in 2010. In 2012, he won the 250 CC event at Sigiri Supercross. He has also set a record jumping over 15 motor vehicles.
However, he has been treated badly by some parties in the regiment, in an attempt to make him leave the military. However, seeing his brother’s success in Sri Lanka Signal Corps, Yohan seems to be eager to join in too.
There is no doubt that these two daredevils will break more records their endeavors with the bike. The efforts of their parents in bringing them to this level have not been lost. However, coming from a poor family, they have their limitations. It is the duty of relevant authorities to help the two brothers reach greater hights. (Courtesy: The Nation)
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