Appreciations

Denzil Kobbekaduwa’s 15th death anniversary falls on August 15. He was killed in mysterious circumstance. In July 1983 when 13 solders were killed in Jaffna, Denzil was a Lt. Colonel. Denzil left for the UK in 1989. Whilst following a course he was summoned by the government in 1990 – to restore peace following the uprising of Sinhala youth.

He was sent back on a request by the British Government. He completed the course in a year and took over the 1st Division at Panagoda. During this period war broke out in the Eastern Province. General Wanasinghe ordered him to Army Headquarters and directed him to take over the Eastern Province with Minneriya as his headquarters. He immediately rescued the troops at Kiran under siege from the LTTE.

He then cleaned the suburbs of Batticaloa and conducted the operations of Kanchikudichiaru. During this period all police stations in the Eastern Province had fallen to the LTTE and Police personnel who surrendered were shot in cold blood and killed. While operations were being completed in the Eastern Province the LTTE overran Army camps in the Northern Province and the Mankulam unit was withdrawn.

Thereafter heavy fighting took place in the Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass and all over Jaffna. He handed over the Eastern Province command to Gen. Gerry Silva and took over the Northern Command from Gen. Stanley Silva who was posted to Panagoda.

He rescued the troops of Jaffna Fort under siege by the LTTE. He cleared the islands prior to the operations on Jaffna. At this time he had working for him Brigade Commander Wimalaratne – brilliant field commander (Denzil’s personal statement), Lt. Col. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, Sarath Fonseka and Gaimin Gunasekera.

Maj. Gen. Kobbekaduwa stabilized Welioya, Vavuniya and Mannar in July 1991. (He led the biggest amphibious operations to rescue the Elephant Pass contingent (Major Sarath Karunaratne was in command). He established contact with the islands in Pooneryn and connected Elephant Pass for an invasion of Jaffna.

He was inspecting landing sites during this same operation to inject troops into the peninsula when he was killed.

This great Major General is no more but his legacy lives on