22nd February 2022 06:44:32 Hours
The legacy of paratroopers of Sri Lankan armed forces, majority from the Commando Regiment and Special Forces of the Army was made immortal and received proper documentation of their history when the Commando Regiment (CR) on Saturday (19) inaugurated the country's first Airmobile Museum at the Commando Regiment Training School (CRTS) premises at Uva-Kudaoya on the sidelines of the day's Passing out Parade of 157 newly-trained Commandos.
None other than the one and only senior most paratrooper still serving after the Commando Regiment Parachute Training Wing was established on January 29, 1990 in Ganemulla Commando Regiment camp, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army had the rare distinction of inaugurating the new Airmobile Museum at the invitation of the Colonel of the Regiment, CR, Major General Krishantha Gnanaratne.
The new Airborne Museum displays all equipment used in the early stages of the Sri Lanka Army Airborne Training and Operations as well as all objects of historic value along with documented evidence and proof. The Chief Guest for the day unveiled a plaque, opened it and went inside it to see for himself in the company of several Senior Officers.
The first batch of Sri Lanka Paratroopers, 3 Officers and 24 Other Ranks passed out from India's Agra-Para Training School after training on 29 December 1979, but the Founding Father of the Commando Regiment (CR) Major S.D Peiris joined history as the 1st Sri Lankan paratrooper. The 1st Sri Lankan Para Show thrilled the attendees on October 10, 1980 when the Kotelawala Defence Academy was vested with the troops to coincide with the Army Day of that year. Similarly, it was Major N.G Chandrasena who was regarded as the 1st Sri Lankan Skydiver, having followed the Skydivers Course in the US who afterwards started to train the Sri Lankan troops.
Yet, it was only on 29 January 1990, the Commando Regiment HQ at Ganemulla established its Parachute Training Wing after which Special Forces of the Army, Sri Lanka Air Force and Sri Lanka Navy troops had the access for admission to airborne training for the first time in the island's history. The Sri Lanka Air Force upon training given by the Army, produced its 1st paratrooper, Squadron Leader, B.N Rathnakumara of Sri Lanka Air Force who entered history. Similarly, Lieutenant U.I Serasingha joined history as the 1st Navy paratrooper of the Sri Lanka Navy on September 14 1992 after Army airborne training. The resultant maiden mega show of Sri Lanan skydivers became an attraction when the 1st show of skydivers with their colourful canopy show in the sky was staged during the 44th Independence Day ceremony in 1992 under the able leadership of Major Samantha Sooriyabandrara. As the scope of airborne training was gaining ground in the country, Sri Lanka's Maiden Skydiving Training began in earnest in the year 1997. Broadening horizons of para jumping to new heights, the parachute wing at Ganemulla CR HQ was later shifted to the CRTS at Uva-Kuda oya in view of the capacity available at the location.
The CRTS Airborne Training Wing is now equipped to conduct Skydiving, Jumpmasters, Rigger, Canopy, Target landing and Base jump training modules in keeping with international standards. Over the years, the Sri Lankan parachuting has been gradually expanded to higher levels with establishment of the Parachute Training School of the Commando Regiment which is dedicated to conduct special training for members of Sri Lankan armed forces, offering the Basic Airborne Course, Free-fall Course, Airborne Instructor & Jumpmaster Course, Rigger Course, Combat Airborne & Pathfinder Course and a few other training modules.
Around the same time, the Colonel of the Commando Regiment invited General Shavendra Silva to open the newly-constructed Indoor Sports Stadium complex plus the Power Gymnasium in the compound. Named after late `Major General P.P Fernando Memorial Indoor Stadium', this Indoor Sports Stadium stands as a tribute to his memory who sacrificed his life during the Elephant Pass debacle while serving as the Deputy General Officer Commanding of the then 54 Division HQ.
Likewise, the memory of late Major G.S Jayanath, who was the 1st Parama Weera Vibhushanaya (PWV) recipient in the Commando Regiment after sacrifice of his precious life in the Operation 'Jayasikuru' was made immortal by dedicating the new Power Gymnasium to his name.
