Sunday Times 2
Story of five Generals
View(s):
The senior military officers saluting to the 'Last Post’ bugle sound at the monument for war heroes in the College premises
Can you believe it, five Majors General and an Air Vice Marshall to add to it, from one same school at the same time? And add to it two Brigadiers, too! Isn’t that a great achievement?
Yes. It so happened at Dhamaraja College, Kandy, in present times.
This was highlighted the other day when the 79/80 Group of that school invited them to the College Auditorium to be felicitated.
The six gladiators were: Major General Nirmal Dharmaratne, Major General Dushan Rajaguru Major General Nissanka Ranawana, Major General Vajira Palihakkara, Major General Prasanna Chandrasekera and Air Vice Marshall Sudarshana Pathirana, who is now the number two of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The team also included Brigadiers Ajith Elwatte and Randula Hathnagoda.
Maj Gen Nirmal Dharmaratne
During the last phase of the 30-year-old war, they had participated in different capacities against the terrorists to defeat them comprehensively. Major General Nirmal Dharmaratne headed the Special Forces. He was also a prominent para-jumper of the Air Mobile Brigade. The contribution of the rest is too long to mention here.
When they stood smartly on the rostrum of the college auditorium dressed in full uniform, in a line with the current Principal Dampiya Wanasinghe and 79/80 group President Narada Nambuge, it was indeed an impressive sight and an inspiration to the present students, teachers and the parents of the officers.
They stood at attention in salute, when the whole assembly proudly sang the college anthem in great aplomb, some old boys shed tears of pride.
It was fascinating to know that all these men had once studied in parallel classes, apart from playing truant in the vast eco campus of 35 acres at Dharmaraja enjoying the Welas, Warakas, coconuts, mangoes, guava and many other fruits on the sly to quench their never ending hunger and mischief. It must have been a queer coincidence for them to meet again in the military parade grounds as cadets and later at battle fields.
Another impressive event at this ceremony was, when they all fell on their knees and paid their respect in gratitude to their legendary principal, A.P. Gunaratne, who was invited to witness this rare spectacle. He may have shed a tear of happiness. It was indeed a moving sight, rare indeed for a teacher. They were all a tribute to his great stewardship, to be able to lead them to such great heights.
Gamini Gunawardena
Retrired Deputy Inspector General
Brig Elwatte receiving his memento from the principal
Brigadier Hathnagoda Randula receiving mementos from Principal Dampiya Wanasinghe