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Upali
Sahabandu There are a
few, some living and some dead, who were responsible for the creation
and development of this elite police paramilitary unit. They provided
direction, guidance and leadership, but one name in particular that
can never be forgotten is that of Upali Sahabandu, Director of Training
of the STF from 1983 till his untimely and tragic death in 1996.
Most, if not all, of the ceremonies and protocol associated with
the STF which had been introduced during his time as Director are
still preserved. The man responsible for this achievement was Upali. Those who knew him intimately cannot fail but see his golden touch in that training establishment - be it the beautiful landscaping, the many firing ranges or the abseiling tower, assault courses, gymnasium and other training facilities. They all stand out in mute testimony to his dedication and commitment. It is not so much in these inanimate objects that we witness the hand of Upali but in the products that he churned out, batch after batch over the years. His concentration was mainly on the individual entrusted to him, to be transformed into a man fit to enter the ranks of the STF. He spared no pains and utilised all the resources at his disposal. He did break, mould and make men out of virtual "green horns" as the expression goes. This was a challenge he revelled in. A martial arts exponent, he led by example, and the trainees virtually idolized him. His enthusiasm and energy were infectious and he had no difficulty in motivating and inspiring his instructors and trainees. He did not restrict himself only to the confines of the training establishment, but participated in exercises and active counter-terrorist operations. It was during one of his visits to the operational areas that he fell victim to a terrorist landmine. The STF as a paramilitary unit has done both the police and the country proud. It has excelled in sports particularly in marksmanship and martial arts, a fact acknowledged by Minister John Amaratunga who addressed the trainees at the last passing out parade. No man who has been actively involved in the STF was unaware of the tremendous contribution of Upali towards the success of the STF. He was a man who has been held in high esteem, not only within the police but within the armed services. In the years to come, it is possible as it often happens that he would be forgotten. There are institutions named after individuals who had no involvement in them. Here was a man who dedicated the better part of his life into the training of this elitist force. It would cost the police and the country nothing, if they were to name the STF training wing, the Sahabandu Special Forces Academy. It would be
a fitting tribute to a man of the calibre of Upali Sahabandu. Beatrice
Sahabandu Amerasekera A grand and gracious lady, Beatrice Sahabandu Amarasekera - "mummy" to most of my friends - passed away on November 24, last year at the age of 87. It is difficult to imagine that the rest of my life will be spent without her and I will only have precious memories. She was in poor
health for four months and despite her suffering remained cheerful.
My friends who visited her while I was at work were told that she
would not live long. She was a veritable human dynamo and gained the respect of all who came in contact with her vast knowledge, dedication to work and unassuming nature. Her belief was that one should sacrifice self interest for the good of the community. A voracious reader, she won newspaper crossword puzzle prizes on many occasions. Even at her ripe age, she had about 10 students whom she taught English although it was not her vocation. My mind goes to this beautiful verse. What a friend
we have in mother Shehan
Solomonsz Of the two buds
on a lush green bush, To blossom on
the bush and wither away, The learned
shine like stars! The loss so
awesome, the shock so immense, |
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