The Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen’s Home in Bolagala, Katana is home to some 20 war veterans for whom today, Remembrance Sunday is very special. No doubt they will pause to reflect on some of the experiences they had as brave soldiers in the battlefront in World War 2. 

Gilman Silva: Recalling war days. Pic by Hasitha Kulasekera

Gilman Silva served in the British Royal Army for 20 years and though now 93 years old, age has not dimmed his memory of the Second World War. “I was at the China Bay camp when they (the Japanese) bombed it in 1941. They were aiming for the oil tanks but they couldn’t accomplish it. I remember as I ran for cover I dragged my comrades with me, shouting for everyone to go for cover. I also remember when the Japanese bombed a ship. (The commemorative plaque still remains inside the harbour). We watched in horror as so many people just dropped dead all around us. I still remember everything that happened,” he says with a distant look in his eyes.

This veteran’s home has 20 war heroes, some of them now bedridden, who live a quiet life, reading their newspapers and waiting for listening ears to relate their heroic tales. Of them, 13 have served in the Army, four in the Navy and three in the Air Force. Of the eight most senior residents, five have medals they received for their service in WW II. 

The oldest among them is 98-year-old Hemis Silva who has served the Royal Navy guard but is now sadly paralysed. Another resident Don Philip Neri Hettiarachchi served the British Royal Artillery and came to the home after the death of his wife. He has been in the home for 24 years.

“This two acre complex was donated by Bharatha Wicramasinghe,” said the acting resident manager of the Home, Leading Seaman S.W. Dandeniya showing us around the main building, built in walauwa style was Mr. Wicramasinghe’s ancestral home. A plaque on the wall states that it was given over to the Sri Lankan Ex-Servicemen’s Association (SLESA) to be used as a veterans’ home. It was opened in 1987 and has always been under the SLESA which administer the home. The Sri Lanka Army provides Rs. 7500 per meal and the Sri Lankan Navy provides the dry rations needed. 

But what is amazing is that the upkeep of the home and of the war veterans living here is through the contributions collected through the sale of Poppy flowers. Even though the single poppies are given to the public with only a request for a contribution of their choice and the poppy wreath is sold for Rs. 200 and a poppy sticker for Rs.20, it’s through the monies raised from these paper flowers that the home is run.

“We receive one million flowers free from the UK. These are handmade by disabled soldiers in a village called the ‘Poppy Village’ in UK. It’s through their sale that we manage the veteran’s home,” says the President of the SLESA, Capt. Patrick Jayasinghe. 

The Sri Lankan Ex-Servicemen’s Association is a subsidiary of the British Commonwealth. Ex-Servicemen’s Association which was started in South Africa in 1921. “We want to continue this practice of the Poppy Sunday as it will honour the memory of those who lost their lives in the war and also give a chance for the younger generation to contribute. The poppy flowers and wreaths are available throughout November at the Cargills outlets, Bank of Ceylon branches as well as Arpico outlets,” says Capt.Jayasinghe.

Standing tall since 1931

The Cenotaph or the War Memorial built in 1931 is one of the tallest war memorials in the world rising 119 feet and 6 inches high. The white granite block from which it was made was brought from Sholingar district in India. Originally located near the Galle Face, it was moved to Viharamahadevi Park during the Second World War when it was thought that due to its height it could become a target for bombing.

The main Remembrance Day service for the war heroes who gave their lives protecting our motherland during the World Wars will be held at the Cenotaph (war memorial) in the presence of the Governor of the Western Province, ambassadors as well as many senior service personnel.