Flt Lt Kasun Cumaratunga , more than a pilot, a guardian remembered on his 37th death anniversary

Kasun, was born in 28^th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred, his elder brother Lasitha 1^st XI Cricketer, of Ananda as well as younger brother Milindu. Kasun was already well known among us for his charisma, intellect, and sporting prowess, particularly in cricket. His presence lit up any gathering. We had shared many memories together, commuting in the same school bus from, Panadura.

One Sunday morning in March 1984, I was informed by the KDA Guard House that two visitors were waiting for me. I welcomed them in the visitor’s lounge of Sir John’s bungalow and was delighted to see my classmate Harendra Perusinghe and our younger schoolmate Kasun Cumaratunga, an exceptionally talented and vibrant young man whose humility matched his brilliance.

Both Kasun and Harendra had just applied to the Sri Lanka Air Force. While Harendra aspired to be a Regiment Officer, Kasun’s heart was set on flying. They were full of excitement and questions about the selection process. A few weeks later, they proudly informed me they had been selected for SLAF Intake 12 in May 1984. (Group Captain Harendra, who went on to have a distinguished service career, tragically passed away in 2011.)

Kasun's journey in the SLAF was nothing short of extraordinary. Widely admired by his peers, he was known not only for his aerial skill able to land a helicopter on a proverbial razor’s edge, but for his boundless generosity and selflessness. Even under enemy fire or during tense missions, Kasun was the first to volunteer, always putting others before himself.

On the fateful night of 3^rd June 1988, Sri Lanka was on high alert. Saboteurs had targeted key infrastructure ahead of crucial Provincial Council elections. A special aerial reconnaissance mission was ordered by General Cyril Ranatunge, the Joint Operations Commander. From the Katunayake Air Force Base a Bell 212 Helicopter which was fitted with a powerful “Night Sun” searchlight was assigned for this mission. The visible white light of this 1600-Watt Xeon Arc lamp searchlight remains intense, providing the Pilot with the best possible visibility of the ground in the night. At the controls was Flying Officer Kasun Cumaratunga, accompanied by another Pilot Officer Priyantha Weeraman (Anandian Wg. Cdr Weeraman,  classified as MIA due to Mi 17 Helicopter Crash off, Point Pedro, 22nd Jan 1996) the Co-Pilot and two SLAF airmen. They were joined by two other officers from the Joint Operations Command (JOC). They were Capt. Lal Ariyathilake (Nalandian a Senior Cadet) of the Military Police as Observation Reconnaissance Officer and Lt. Prasanna Chandrasiri (Rajan, Army Chess champion for three consecutive years, retired as Lt Col) from the Signals Corps as Communications Reconnaissance Officer.

Having successfully completed reconnaissance over Colombo, the helicopter encountered severe weather and dangerously poor visibility during its return. Over Kimbulapitiya, turbulence struck the chopper spun out of control, collided with high-tension wires, and crashed.

At Katunayake Air Force Base a Bell 414 Helicopter had been ready to airlift Kasun to the Sri Jayewardenepura Hospital, after a recce at the crash site. This helicopter was piloted by two highly experienced flyers Sqd Ldr Lasantha Waidyaratne and Sqd Ldr Roshan Gunathilake (present Marshal of the Air Force). Within 12 minutes they landed at Sri Jayawardanapura Hospital and Squadron Leader Kasun was taken in immediately, but sadly he passed away in a few minutes.

Kasun was only 23 years old. But those 23 years shone brighter than most lifetimes. Kasun had already logged the highest number of flying hours in the SLAF, a clear testament to his tireless commitment to duty. He had risked his life countless times to save wounded soldiers on the battlefield. He was a guardian angel in the skies.

In one particularly heroic mission, on 21t January 1986 while flying over Thelipalai in 1986, his commanding officer, Wg Cdr Sunil Cabral, who was an expert in heliborne operations, was shot mid-flight. Kasun, still a cadet pilot, took immediate control of the Bell-212, safely landed the chopper, and saved his senior’s life an act of quick thinking and unmatched courage.

Kasun’s impact on the next generation of Air Force pilots was profound. He was more than a flyer he was a mentor, a guiding force in the skies. One such instance of his influence came on the night of 17th January 1987, near Elephant Pass, under a blanket of darkness and hostile skies.

Flying alongside with Kapila Rathnasekera, (Retired as Wg Cdr) when he was a cadet pilot whom Kasun had personally mentored and helped shape during his early training days, with Kasun co-piloted a Bell 212 helicopter into one of the most challenging environments imaginable. Despite the risks of night flying in an active war zone, they pressed on with unwavering resolve. That night, they provided vital close air support to another Bell 212 flown by Squadron Leader Romesh Mendis and Pilot Officer Priyantha Weeraman at Elephant Pass.

In operations like these, Kasun wasn’t just flying, he was leading, protecting, and inspiring. His steady hand and calm presence in the cockpit gave strength to those around him, making him not only a pilot of immense skill but also a true pillar of the Air Force brotherhood.

In another legendary operation under the command of General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Kasun’s aerial reconnaissance identified an LTTE ambush in time to alert ground forces, thereby averting what could have been a catastrophic loss. The convoy, led by Capt. Raj Wijesiri (who would later become a key figure in the founding of Special Forces Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol- LRRP), was saved thanks to Kasun’s precision and unwavering vigilance.

When Kasun flew, he didn’t just fly aircraft, he flew hope, protection, and resolve. With unwavering courage, Kasun pilots his Bell 212 helicopter, an airborne sentinel of strength and precision. Armed with a rocket pod on one flank and a gun pod on the other, the aircraft becomes a formidable force under his command. From the cockpit, he surveys the battlefield with a warrior’s eye, locking onto targets with unerring focus. At his fingertips, the controls unleash a symphony of fire and steel, each strike a testament to his skill and bravery. In the skies, Kasun is not merely a pilot, he was a guardian, a symbol of valor soaring through the clouds in combat zones, the presence of Kasun overhead was often the only reassurance for soldiers pinned down in hostile territory. They knew, Kasun will come.

Today, on the 37th anniversary of his untimely death, we bow our heads and our hearts in remembrance of this six-foot-tall aviator with the radiant smile. We honour Flight Lieutenant Kasun Cumaratunga not only as a remarkable pilot, but as one of the nation's most valiant sons. His memory is etched into the skies he once ruled, into the hearts of those he served, and into the very soul of a grateful nation.

Let us never forget that he gave all he had his youth, his strength, his spirit, and ultimately, his life so that others may live. In honouring Kasun, we do not merely remember a hero; we celebrate the eternal flame of duty, courage, and sacrifice.

Kasun, you will fly forever in our skies, in our hearts, and in the legacy of freedom you helped secure.

- Nilakshan Perera