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Lieutenant Colonel Sujith Edirisinghe with procured artistic skills aptly authors novels on war literature for posterity
Sri Lankan Civil War was fought in Sri Lanka from year1983 to 2009 beginning on 23 July 1983. There was a sporadic insurgency against the Sri Lankan government by the Velupillai Prabhkaran-led Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam also known as Tamil Tigers, who wished at any cost a Tamil state of their own called the Tamil Eelam in the north and east under their overall administration. It was through combat and not by ballot. This was opted with foreign aid owing to continuous discrimination and due to the continuous inequity and vicious intimidation against Sri Lankan Tamils by only a minority Sinhalese dictated by the Sri Lankan government.
Violent intimidation flared up in the form in years 1956,1958,1977,1981 and 1983 anti-Tamil massacres as well .These were carried out by the majority Sinhalese mobs often with state patronage. In the years following Sri Lanka’s Independence from the British Empire in year 1948 shortly Sinhala was accepted as the sole official language of the nation. After a 26-year military campaign, the Sri Lanka armed forces militarily triumphed over the Tamil Tigers after fierce battles losing so many lives to end the civil war on 20th May 2009.The estimated number of deaths from reliable sources was approximately 40,000 civilians but the total deaths of military and LTTE cadres was estimated to be around 70,000.The total number military personnel killed in action amounted to 25874 while the injured made disabled indicated as 27879. In addition a large number were reported missing in action and also a large number not accountable a pity indeed, these figures are not precise but a bit arbitrary.
Almost it is over a decade to be precise this is the thirteenth year, since the war had ended many higher ranked personnel in the forces have now retired and so are many in lower ranks .There are many eligible to retire after completing twenty two years in service, In this scenario invariably after another two decades all military personnel who were responsible, had partaken to end the war would too retire. It is the view of some intellectuals, particularly of Major Sujith Edirisinghe that the memories of the war should be written in books instead of letting them be buried should be preserved for posterity particularly as the new generations should be made aware how the war was won against so many impediments which were terrifyingly navigated over against many odds. To date a very few retired high army personnel had published books with their personnel experiences in fighting to win the war though not in detail and comprehensively, covering only the area they had commanded.
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Sujith Chaminda Edirisinghe Lieutenant Colonel by rank in the army possessing many diverse art skills. a novelist, lyrics writer, story writer, painting designer, photographer, announcer, a famous preacher of war literature had authored a few books surfacing many hazardous tasks encountered by self and others details obtained accurately the prolonged civil was against the dreadful Tamil rebels. It is the firm belief of war veteran Sujith these specifics should be made available for the emerging generations as this episode is so historical should never be forgotten perhaps as it is certain a comparable war will never be confronted again. Sujith via his dedicated work in authoring many books is a famous Major among all ranks in the army. In addition he obliges as the editor of the official army magazine “Ranaviruwa.” Among the books he had already launched is Yudabimaka Giniyama” a novel symbolising purely his own experiences launched on 26th January2021.Sujith is a reputed lecturer in the Directorate of Psychological operation having conducted several lectures on war history at KDU Law Faculty is an accomplished enough to keep any audience spellbound without even a pin drop silence.Sujith is undoubtedly an outstanding orator in public speaking.
Sujith was keen on publishing books through mainly his own practices in the war front. Two more books on significant fierce battles in Mullattivu and Kokavil attacks were authored by Sujith were released earlier presented both first copies to Major General Shavendra Silva Chief of Defence staff and Commander of the Army.at the Army headquarters.”Maranaya Medin Mulativu Sita”( which narrates tension in a battlefield) ,from Mulativu in the midst of death and “Avi Bimaka Giniyama”was launched to coincide with the 12th Victory day in May 2018.These books narrate the July 1996 attack in a comprehensive manner on rebel terrorists, the nastiest attack on ruthless terrorists on record ,during the thirty year prolonged war..It also illustrates the deadly terrorist 1990 Kokavil attack in which fifty four soldiers and four civilian staffers were among the sixty one dead inside the camp having been attached to the television station.It has to be mentioned that both books narrate comprehensive statistics,strategies,tactics,manipulations ,concerted efforts and counter attacks accurately adopted by the army soldiers deploying their wide-ranging conviction not been documented priory had been ultimately published accurately after extensive research of over three years.
During the period the books were launched Lieutenant Colonel Sujith was invited to several television , broadcasting media while articles were published on print media.The question posted by many hosts were “ what made you to publish these books”.Sujith affirmed that in most books every detail of the subject were published in whatever the subtitle of any manuscript ,hence he had believed that conveying most information about the war was the dire need as not only for this generation but for peers to come as it would be most appropriate to understand the manner the war was fought..In all his books there had been no imaginative or contrivance matter, These attributes have been the symbol of his success in authoring such books.
Sujith was invited to be the guest in the very popular SLRC program “Sihinayaki Re” telecast every Sunday on the 02nd February 2020 to speak to a packed audience comprising an equal number of army personnel. Though he was very keen to participate much earlier he finally had got his opportunity. There was pin drop silence in the auditorium, while giving his thoughts for selecting the songs ,it need to be emphasized that his presentation was flawless, what made me write this article as it is my passion too.Also to convey his experiences expressed with relevant examples . The entire audience listened to his utterings with supreme curiosity where pin drop silence prevailed. He, confessed the reason for selecting his first song”Gamata Kalin Hiru”, affirming that out of all mothers the “Ranaviru” mothers are exceptional for consenting to remain in the army or to join as new recruits, throughout the thirty year prolonged ethnic war.At any cost the Ranaviru mothers intention was that the sovereignty of the motherland be preserved. Initially they need to be highly admired, commended, consenting to remain in service for their sons to fight in the deadly civil war.Of course the risk the sons faced was inescapable cannot be put into words. They lived in suspense all the time thinking of them from whom they did not hear frequently. The author Sujith himself had joined the army during the height of the war in early 1990 decade hailing from a village in Yakkala when he and his family members had seen coffins of youth killed in the war brought to their poor homes in the vicinity .Sujith emphasized how it was reported that forces have advanced from Mullativu to Nandikadal but the strenuous manner the path was cleared tactfully and strategically overcoming the enemy which was only known to the army personnel the path was not given simply on a tray.
Sujith emphasized that each Ranaviru mother had brough up her son by feeding him giving whatever nourishment she could afford ,for each mother the value of her son cannot be compared to anything.Hence just imagine the worry and tension that existed in the minds of Ranaviru mothers.They were awfully excited if a army vehicle or personnel approached. The manner young wife’s of soldiers in the battle front lived in supreme anxiety looking after any children the duo had.Some were pregnant ,some wife’s lost their Ranaviru husbands killed in action even before giving birth of a child . Normally Sujith added the normal women used to grumble that their husbands come home late, cannot take leave,cannot attend a wedding, go to the doctor. Having the fear of been transferred etc etc. But they are confident that their husbands are not subjected to injuries like losing a limb or any other serious injury which the Ranaviru husbands are very much prone to.The soldiers who are bachelors have affirmed how attached they are to their mothers . often had lamented not to tell”Amma’ about injuries, which was further illustrated from their eyes before their last breadth.Sujith conveyed a very sorrowful and hurting story of a senior soldier who had opted to retire on the 31st December after completing 22 years service.Two days before he had treated his colleagues by serving ‘kewili”.sweets etc when suddenly an enemies bullets had pierced through his neck.He had been taken to hospital in an ambulance where he had succumbed to his injuries.In the ambulance his purse had been found, within it there had been a letter that was folded.When it was opened it had been from his wife, who had added that she is waiting for his arrival also conveying that she has conceived. The two had got married late ,this child expected was the first child.There had been many pathetic untold similar stories.
Sujith had been involved in resettlement activities after completion of the war.He related a story how the LTTE cadres had hoodwinked the civilians saying not to trust the army soldiers .Once on a resettlement mission in year 2009, with other soldiers they had helped those who had vacated their dwellings to resettle, who had hitherto occupied the LTTE territories governed areas for two decades.The state had suppled them with minimum relief by providing roofing sheets, cement and provisions to start a new life.But they were supported by the army in doing , cleaning the overgrown weeds, any remaining debris, termites and other ranges. Though many had at least one male to assist one old lady was embracing a small child looked very worried staying in her appropriate spot in the area. Sujith was inquisitive to know about her inner, had told a Tamil speaking soldier to inquire on her peculiar conduct. It was learnt that during the time they were living in LTTE controlled areas she was squeezed, misled like all others, saying the army soldiers are very cruel,ruthless,not to trust, inhuman etc,But when she saw to her own eyes how they were helping the resettles she was shocked. Her daughter had been a LTTE suicide bomber who had died. Sujith had been terribly perturbed over this story had not been able to sleep that night, hence as his usual passion had written an appropriate poem. A few words justified that she is “mari mari epedenawa keepa wathawakma” , but her daughter Kamalini has died just once.
Sujith need a huge bouquet cum appreciation for his toil to go with his passion to complete his novels in war literature linked to true facts verified sans any doubt precisely with his own and information collected from compatriots with experiences hitherto not expressed so comprehensively by not even a handful who had endeavoured. Sujith had completed this gruelling task expressing true facts in victories, setbacks and defeats which had been less written yet.Sujith had successfully concluded a unparalleled mission of the soldiers less written earlier, notwithstanding the rain , heat sporting rough uniforms, his pen was able to unite human bonds denied by a war. The contents of all his books on war literature aimed exclusively to be preserved for posterity for future generations to realize.
SUNIL THENABADU
IN BRISBANE