Hasalaka Gamini, a legend of eternal heroism

We are frequently reminded of this brave character whenever we hear the neighborhood 'Hasalaka' in Kandy. 'Sithunada sithuwada weeraya hasalaka......' is a popular Sinhala song written for him and sung by a Sri Lankan vocalist. Hasalaka Gamini Kularatne, on the other hand, requires no introduction because we all know who he is.

Since the tremendous sacrifice he made at the Elephant Pass battleground on that terrifying night of July 10, 1991, Hasalaka Gamini has become a tale of eternal heroism. Elephant Pass, a large military base of the Sri Lanka Army, was attacked by LTTE terrorists on this day.

Until we have dreadful, gloomy recollections of the bloody conflict, even if it is finally finished. With the assassination of tiger leader V. Prabhakaran, the fear psychosis generated by brutal terrorism came to an end, and the country is now at peace. In truth, things would have been very different if this demon had been alive, but the nation has been lucky enough to experience peaceful coexistence in the long run.

The enormous sacrifices made by our military services members to end three decades of terrorism are unfathomable. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers, as well as unarmed people, have been killed in battle since the conflict began.

Some of those soldiers have gone on to become heroes after displaying acts of valor on the battlefield and fighting valiantly against the enemy. On the day of the Elephant Pass attack, this young guy, Hasalaka Gamini, was a valiant soldier who protected all of his fellow soldiers as well as the Army base. He accomplished so at the cost of his own life.

I was traveling from Mahiyanganaya to Kandy a few weeks ago, and as soon as I arrived in the Hasalaka area, I was reminded of this war hero. That's when I spotted his memorial created in his honor at the crossroads leading to Hasalaka, a lovely farming hamlet in Sri Lanka's affluent Kandy province.

I intended to go into this soldier Kularatne's house, so I turned right at the memorial. This residence is only one and a half kilometers from the main road down a carpeted road.

Only Kularatane's mother, S.G. Juliet Kularatne, was at home when I arrived, and the rest of the family had gone about their daily routines. I was greeted kindly and sat in a chair in the parlour. A few framed large-format images of solider Kularatne in his military uniform were on display. He is seen clutching a weapon in one of them.

At that same moment, Juliet was kind enough to offer me a cup of tea. I noticed tears rise up in her eyes when I mentioned her son and the Elephant Pass incident. She is now residing in a luxurious home provided by then-President R. Premadasa, who paid her frequent visits following the incident. They had previously resided in a little cabin.

Not only President Premadasa, but also many other politicians, including current Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, had paid her a visit and inquired about her health.

Juliet's husband died in an automobile accident when their children were still little. Their sole source of income was farming. After her husband's tragic death, it was incredibly difficult for her to feed her six children — one girl and five boys.

Kularatne, her second son, was born on September 4, 1966. He had opted to join the Army with her approval after finishing primary schooling due to dire poverty. He was sent to the Sixth Battalion of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment at the Elephant Pass after completing basic military training. He was in the prime of his life when he was tragically killed.

Attack on the military base

Terrorists used a variety of guerilla methods, including sending explosive-laden vehicles accompanied by suicide bombers to military bases. The devastation wrought by such a vehicle exploding with high-powered explosives is enormous. On the day of the attack on the Elephant Pass garrison, the tiger rebels employed a caterpillar bulldozer heavily laden with explosives.

It was no easy feat, according to the massive steel armour plates utilized for this big machine, to destroy it at a distance using either RPGs or small weapons fire.

When the onslaught began, Gamini Kularatne, one of the troops standing guard over their defense lines, recognized the impending disaster and acted quickly to stop it. On that fateful day, a friend of Kularatne named Peter Rovel had witnessed the entire scenario.

Gamini, he claims, sprinted towards the oncoming bulldozer in the thick darkness, holding two hand grenades in both hands. Rovel had attempted, but failed, to stop him from moving forward.

After a few seconds, a massive explosion erupted as his friend ascended the bulldozer's ladder amidst heavy fire to throw the explosives into the machine. Kularatne never made it back to the defense line that night, and his still-moving, bullet-riddled body was discovered near the bulldozer the next morning.

There would have been a tremendous human catastrophe if the heavily armed bulldozer had broken through the barriers, but soldier Kularatne was able to avert it with his quick response, which cost him his life.

Juliet was disappointed that she would not be able to view her son's body. During the battle, the only way to evacuate casualties was by air, although military helicopters were frequently assaulted. As a result, dead bodies were incinerated or buried at the camp locations, and the ashes were later delivered to the parents' homes. Even the ashes were invisible to some parents.

Juliet used to receive her son's monthly pay on a regular basis, but she stopped when he turned 55. He would be 55 years old this year if he were still living. After her son's pay was stopped, authorities informed her that they would make arrangements for her to receive an allowance.

She claims that the Sri Lanka Army sends her a vehicle every year to transport her to military ceremonies. Each year, a major function with the involvement of military chiefs is organized at the Elephant Pass camp. Similarly, members of the electronic and print media, as well as some youtubers, have come to speak with her. She had also taken part in state-sponsored abroad trips.

An act of gallantry

Even though Kularatne is no longer alive, he is revered by all Sri Lankans. Indeed, he is deserving of our respect and admiration for making the ultimate sacrifice for the nation on that fateful day.

Soldier Kularatne's valiant actions on the battlefield have gone down in the history of the Sri Lankan military. Then-Vanni military commander Maj. Gen. Denzil Kobbekaduwa certified it as a brave gesture, and Hasalaka Gamini became a legendary war hero.

He was promoted to Corporal posthumously in honour of his bravery and courage. He was the first to get the 'Parama Weera Vibhushanaya' (PWV), Sri Lanka's highest gallantry medal, which is given to a soldier who saves lives by sacrificing his own life in combat.

In honor of the soldier Gamini Kularatne's sacrifice during the conflict, a monument has been constructed. Visitors to Jaffna should make a point of seeing this memorial. On this ferocious battleground, he fought valiantly and saved the lives of everyone trapped in the camp that day.

Apart from the Kularatne memorial, another unique feature on the camp grounds is an armoured caterpillar bulldozer that was delivered to the site by terrorists. It is the only war that can be seen right now.