Lost Heros 

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Chinthaka Wijerupa

Chinthaka joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an officer cadet in 1987. During his career he served in Navy's most difficult environments like isolated outpost in Mannar beaches, 'Vettilaikerni' on the Eastern Shore of Jaffna and beaches of Northern Islands. He was specialized in gunnery and had advanced training in India. At the time of his death he was commanding Israel built fast attack craft of the Sri Lanka Navy's premier fighting squadron. The fast attack craft he was commanding was destroyed on 7th April 2000 off the coast of 'Nagarkovil' when it came under enemy shore based artillery guns. He was supporting the Sri Lanka Army units at Nagarkovil to hold into LTTE Tigers offensive to capture Jaffna. He was the brother in law of Lieutenant Colonel Dhammika Tennakoon who died about six months earlier.

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Lieutenant Commander U.S.Senanayake (Uditha)

He joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 1987 as an officer cadet and after initial training was send to India for specialization in electrical/electronics. Having spent 4 years in India and successfully completing his specialization he returned back to the island. He was assigned his first appointment in the Navy as the electrical officer attached to Navy's Northern naval area. On 29th August 1993 he took passage on board P 464, a fast attack craft proceeding from Trincomalee to KKS. The craft he was on came under LTTE suicide attack off Point Pedro and got completely destroyed (29.08.1993). He was pronounced 'missing in action'.

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Lieutenant Commander A.D. Nanayakkara (Anura)

'Nana', Flamboyant member in the group who joined the Navy in 1987, completed his initial training in Naval and Maritime Academy Trincomalee. Having completed his training he served in many ships and shore establishments as an office in the executive branch of the Navy. In 1996 he was serving as an officer in command of a fast attack craft, P 457 when he was instructed to proceed immediately to investigate very suspicious boat movement just outside the Trincomalee harbor on 26th of October. The craft proceeded and never returned due being sunk at the harbor mouth (26.10.1996) by awaiting LTTE suicide boat. There were no survivors or not even the wreck was detected in very deep sea at the harbor mouth.

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Lieutenant Colonel M.A.C. Perera RSP

'MAC' to all the men he knew, this former cadet band CSM (Company Sergeant Major) joined the Army in 1987. After his initial training, he was assigned to the engineer corps. However after brief service he joined the Special Forces (SF) and displayed his leadership and bravery. As a true leader he not only gained reputation among the troops he command but also among the enemy as respected opponent. He was decorated with 'Gallantry Medals' in couple of occasions. After his attachment to SF he joined back to his mother unit and by the time of his sudden demise at Jaffna (08.11.1996) due enemy attack, was serving as the unit 21C

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Lieutenant Colonel Dhammika Tennakoon

He joined the SL Army in 1987 and joined armored corps. He was wounded in action at Vetolaikerni in 1991 when his armored vehicle came under enemy RPG attack resulting burn injuries due which he was out of OPS areas for certain period of time. He has been a successful officer in armored corps with potentials to excel. He was killed in action during Operation 'Jayasikuru' (22.07.1998) when his jeep caught up with a clamor mine ambush. He was an active member in RCU committee appointed to construct a monument to commemorate war heroes. He also was decorated for bravery in couple of occasions.

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Flight Lieutenant Janaka Kahandawala R.W.P. RSP

Kahandawala joined the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1985 as a general duty pilot. He soon started to specialize in ground attack aircraft of 'Siai Marchetti' in which he build up a name for himself. As an Air Force's pioneer pilot in ground attack role he discharged his duties for many offensives risking his own life. He was decorated with 'Gallantry Medals' number of times and was a skilled pilot. He once saved the aircraft he was landing with only one tyre functioning, a feast not many pilots can perform. He died when the 'Antonov' aircraft he was taking passage to North crashed into Negombo seas (13.09.1995) due getting caught to a squall. Surely a tragic way to die for a man of his caliber.

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Flight Lieutenant Ian Perera

Ian joined the Air Force in 1987 as an officer cadet and was served as a regiment officer. He served in various Air Force bases as a security officer, who was in charge of base security and security controlling. In 1996 he was appointed to Air Force Head Quarters and was killed at 'Kolonnawa' refinery storage facility when it came under LTTE suicide attack. Although he was at home, on the sounds of the gunfire he proceeded to location with couple of his troops to investigate when suicide bomber jumped to his vehicle killing him instantly (20.10.1995).

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Flight Lieutenant Rajiv Kulatunga

Rajiv joined Sri Lanka Airforce in 1984 as a general duty pilot and specialized on rotary wings. He was selected to fly VIP flights for most of the time and was making himself a name as a potential rotary wing pilot. He died tragically when the chopper, a bell 212 he was piloting crashed near sigiriya on 05.05.1990. He was one of the first to joined airforce from the group with Janaka Kahandawala.

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