01st June 2023 20:27:14 Hours
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army admiring and highly appreciating the timely intervention of Corporal K.M.B.R.K.L Karunarathne of 4 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment who saved more than 50 lives on board a private bus seconds after the bus driver was flung out, invited the brave Corporal to the Commander’s office and awarded the Army Commander’s Commendation Medal on Thursday (1) at the Army Headquarters. This appreciative event was arranged to concide with the commemorative programme of the Army Commander’s 1st year anniversary of the office as the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army.
The incident occurred in the general area of Ududumbara when the bus driver while negotiating a sharp bend was suddenly thrown out through the driver’s door compelling the bus to proceed ahead sans a driver for about 50 meters.
The Army soldier, Corporal K.M.B.R.K.L Karunarathne who was on the bus promptly reacted, jumped on to the driver’s seat, braked it to a halt and took control of the moving bus within seconds preventing a major catastrophe in the mountainous cliff area.
The Commander of the Army, touched by his presence of mind and miraculous intervention commended his bravery and awarded the Army Commander’s Commendation Medal to Corporal K.M.B.R.K.L Karunarathne who was invited to the Commander’s office. He also praised him for his exemplary act, a typical quality of a brave soldier and wished him good luck for the future.
The Army Chief maintained that it was none other than experiences and the training of the soldier which persuaded him to perform this incredible act. Corporal K.M.B.R.K.L Karunarathne has followed the Special Infantry Operation Course (6 months), Leadership and Career Development Course (1 month), and Basic Disaster Response Course (3 months).
Major General M.G.W.W.W.M.C.B Wickramasinghe RWP RSP ndu psc, Adjutant General and Lieutenant Colonel W.P.D.D.R Weerapura RWP RSP USP Commanding Officer of 4 Sri Lanka Light Infantry were associated with the occasion.
