Vijaya Wimalaratne

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Major general (posthumously promoted)
UnitGajaba Regiment,
Gemunu Watch
Commands heldSecurity Forces – Jaffna,
Amphibious Task Force,
Garrison Command Colombo,
1st Brigade,
1st Gajaba Battalion
Battles/warsSri Lankan Civil War
Awards Rana Wickrama Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama
 Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
Uttama Seva Padakkama

Major General Vanigamuni Indrajith Vijeyakumar Mendis Wimalaratne, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP (Sinhala: විජය විමලරත්න; 25 August 1940 – 8 August 1992) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer. One of the most distinguished field commanders in Sri Lanka, Wimalaratne raised the Gajaba Regiment, he commanded the 1st Brigade during the Vadamarachchi Operation, he commanded the Amphibious Task Force Commander during Operation Balavegaya and was the Commander Security Forces – Jaffna at the time of his death in a land mine explosion at Point Arali in the Kayts Island
while making preparations to re-capture Jaffna.

Early life and education

Born on 25 August 1940, second of a family of eight boys, Wimalaratne was educated at Royal College, Colombo.[1][2]

Military career

Early career

Wimalaratne joined the Ceylon Army as an

British Army Staff College at Camberley.[2]

Gajaba Regiment

In 1983, Major Wimalaratne was appointed as the first

Army Special Forces program having established the first Special Forces Squadrons.[6][7]

Operation Liberation

Main article: Vadamarachchi Operation

LTTE (Tamil Tiger) control. 1st Brigade broke-out of Thondamanaru area with the infantry wading across the lagoon, but was stopped by a mine-field. With the combat engineers clearing a path across, 1st Gajaba Battalion broke-out and reaching the coast, troops from the 1st Brigade defeating the defensive line commanded by the LTTE leader Soosai, made a 90 degree turn undertaking a pincer movement capturing Valvettithurai. By 31 May, the government declared that the Vadamarachchi region recaptured. During the operation Kobbekaduwa and Wimalaratne were nearly killed when the house closed to them exploded due to a bobby-trap.[8]

JVP Insurrection

With the second phase of Operation Liberation being abandoned with the Indian intervention by

Joint Operations Command (JOC) and serving as its Director Operations. He held both posts until the insurrection was subdued in late 1989 with the capture of the leader of the JVP.[3]

Northern front

Main article: Operation Balavegaya

Promoted to

Brigade Commander, 21 "Jaffna" Brigade
.

Death

Maj Gen Vijaya Wimalaratne Statue at Kiribathgoda Town.

In July 1992, Major General

Jane's Information Group that the assassination was by the LTTE.[11]

Funeral

His remains were brought to Colombo and kept at his brother's residence for morning. The funeral took place at the

major general.[3]

Legacy

General Vijaya Wimalaratne is considered as the founder of the Gajaba Regiment and one of the finest field commanders of the Sri Lanka Army. A statue of General Vijaya Wimalaratne was erected at Kiribathgoda Town.[3]

President Chandrika Kumaratunga, appointed a Presidential Commission of Inquiry, made up of Tissa Dias Bandaranayake (Chair), Justice D. P. S. Gunasekera and Gamini Ameratunga, High Court Judge to investigate the death of General Kobbekaduwa. A witness, Rohini Hathurusinghe gave evidence that Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne and Major General Ananda Weerasekara conspired to kill Kobbekaduwa with a bomb planted in his jeep, which caused a major national scandal. A report from the Criminal Investigation Department found Hathurusinghe's evidence could not be corroborated, yet Bandaranayake allowed her testimony. Justice Gunasekera and Ameratunga resigned from the commission. Televised, the commissioned became a media sensation and a statue of Wimalaratne was destroyed by a mob. Hathurusinghe changed her story and accused the Chairmen of the commission of getting her to falsely accuse the army officers.[12] Although the validity of Hathurusinghe's evidence was questioned,[13] The Asia Times commented that "a second and last Presidential Commission came up with highly speculative conclusions."[14]

Awards and decorations

Wimalaratne had been awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama and Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry and the Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, Army 25th Anniversary Medal, President's Inauguration Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, Vadamarachchi Operation Medal and the Purna Bhumi Padakkama. He was posthumously awarded Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, Uttama Seva Padakkama and Desha Putra Sammanaya.[3]

Rana Wickrama Padakkama Rana Sura Padakkama Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
Uttama Seva Padakkama Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal President's Inauguration Medal
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal Desha Putra Sammanaya Purna Bhumi Padakkama Vadamarachchi Operation Medal

Family

Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne was married to Manel Wimalaratne and they had a two sons[15] and a daughter. He had nine brothers in his family. His son Dr Hiran Wimalaratne, is a Colonel in the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps and his daughter Dr Nishanthi Wimalaratne serves in the Cardio-logical Unit of the Colombo General Hospital.[3][16]

References

  1. ^ a b Perera, Chaminda. "Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne: Icon of unparalleled bravery and commitment". Daily News. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e FOUNDER FATHER OF THE GAJABA REGIMENT
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Iconic Founding Father of GR Remembered". Daily News. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  4. ^ "1st Battalion of Gajaba Regiment". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  5. ^ Gajaba Regiment Silver Jubile
  6. ^ Saluting a true leader in battle as we enjoy the fruits of the end of war
  7. ^ Eelam war I: The Wimalaratne factor
  8. ISBN 9781317293859
    . Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  9. ^ Warrior withered, legend never will
  10. ^ "Warriors of our time". Archived from the original on 31 August 2006. Retrieved 25 June 2008.
  11. ^ Jane's Sentinel examines the success of the LTTE in resisting the Sri Lankan forces
  12. ^ "Bandaranayake vs. Yapa 'Many wrong things have been done'". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  13. ^ "It's a hoax, it's a hoax, it's a hoax". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 1 January 2022.
  14. ^ "Sri Lanka: The Untold Story Chapter 52: President blamed for assassinations". Asia Times.
  15. ^ http://www.kaputa.co./news209[permanent dead link]
  16. ^ "Royal College Class of '72 celebrates Golden anniversary in grand style". The Daily FT. Retrieved 23 June 2023.

External list

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