Tyron Silvapulle
Wing Commander | |
---|---|
Service number | 01502 |
Unit | No. 9 Squadron SLAF |
Awards |
Early life and military career
Silvapulle was a
Silvapulle joined in the air force on 18 May 1986, under the enlistment number 01502.[2] He was part of the 16th pilot intake to the air force, and served as a pilot in both the northern and eastern fronts during the war. Silvapulle flew Bell 212 and Mil Mi-17 transport helicopters as a general duties pilot before being assigned to the No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron to pilot the air force's Mil Mi-24 gunships.[1]
Action on 17 December 1999
On 17 December 1999, the army's forward defence lines at
The damaged aircraft crashed into the
Awards and recognition
Silvapulle received the
The brave decision of Wing Commander T. D. S. Silvapulle to attack the enemy knowing the threat posed by surface to air missiles and the risk to his own life is to be thus commended with the awarding of "Parama Weera Vibhushanaya" in his honour.[7]
His medal was awarded to his next-of-kin on 19 May 2012 by Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, at the celebrations marking the third anniversary of the end of the war.[8][9] Silvapulle is the first and only recipient of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya from the air force.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d Prematunge, Sajitha (11 May 2008). "Salvage operation under enemy fire". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on 17 January 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "Heroes of the Sri Lanka Air Force – T. D. S. Silvapulle". Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ a b c Blacker, David (10 June 2012). "The Exceptional Courage Of Mere Mortals – Parama Weera Vibhushanaya". The Sunday Leader. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "President Awards PWV Gallantry Medals – Third National Victory Day Parade Salutes Invaluable Sacrifices of War Heroes". Sri Lanka Army. 19 May 2012. Archived from the original on 13 April 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "Elephant Pass troops stand firm". The Sunday Times. 19 December 1999. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ The Government of Sri Lanka (16 May 2012). "The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (Extraordinary) – No. 758/21" (PDF). Sri Lanka Government Press. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "PWV Citation – (01502) Wing Commander T. D. S. Silvapulle (Posthumous)" (PDF). Ministry of Defence of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ De Silva, Nishan (19 May 2012). "රණවිරුවන් 15කට පරම වීර විභූෂණ සම්මාන" [Parama Weera Vibhushanaya for 15 War Heroes]. Neth FM News (in Sinhala). Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
- ^ "රණබිමේ දී පෑ දස්කම් වෙනුවෙන් පරම වීර විභූෂණ පදක්කම්" [Parama Weera Vibhushanaya medals for heroism on the battlefield]. Dinamina (in Sinhala). 21 May 2012. Retrieved 16 March 2013.