“Bhathiya”
23rd Death Anniversary of Brigadier Bhathiya Jayatilleka, RSP, IG
Extracts from book “READ BETWEEN THE LINES”
By Admiral Ravindra C. Wijegunaratne
Former Navy Commander & Former Chief of Defence Staff
Managing Director Ceylon Petroleum Corporation and
Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd.
We studied together at the Royal College. He was two batches senior to me, but we were
in the same Royal College Cadet Platoon. He was our cadet Sergeant in 1978 Platoon. Bhathiya was a
very cheerful person. He was smart and liked to wear fashionable clothes. When we all were wearing
baggy shirts and trousers issued by Cadets Corps, Bhathiya had his own uniforms stitched to his size.
Since school-time, he wanted to join the Army, and he was very excited about it. He joined the Army as
an Officer Cadet into the first Short Service Commission batch in 1979 and was trained at the Indian
Army Officer Training Academy, Chennai and subsequently, joined the Artillery Regiment of Sri Lanka
Army.
As young officers, we both worked together in Mannar. I was the Officer-in-Charge of an
isolated Naval Detachment in Thalaimannar, and he served in the Brigade Headquarters in Talladi,
Mannar. We used to have security meetings every fortnight at the Brigade Headquarters headed by our
boss at that time, Brigadier Daya Wijesekara. As the land route from Talimannar to Mannar was not
secure, I used to travel by a speedboat. The meeting was usually held on Saturdays. After the meeting,
my Arty friends, Bhathiya, Roshan, Athula, Bandula (Logistician) and CLI friend (Trinitian) Chandana
will approach Brigadier Daya and get permission for me to return to Talaimannar on Sunday. Brigadier
Daya handed over the Brigade to then Brigadier Srilal Weerasooriya (who later became the Army
Commander and our High Commissioner in Pakistan). We worked very hard as young officers and
seniors were very fond of us.
So, the evening party on Saturday will start at eight ‘o’ clock after strong warnings from
our Battery Commander (BC) at that time Major Thibbatumunuwa (rose to Major General rank later),
Major Nissanka Wijesinghe (rose to Major General rank and appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Army),
Major VR Silva (rose to Major General rank later) and Major Mahesh Samaraweera (rose to Major
General rank later) not to drink too much and not to break glasses. However, after convincing them of
good behaviour, the party starts and Old Arrack and beer will flow till late into the night.
Those were the good days that we had in 1985/86 in Mannar. The only soft spot of
Bhathiya had been his sweetheart Sashi, a Vishakian from school time. He will speak for hours
explaining how beautiful she is and his future plans for their married life. When we were fighting LTTE
and merrymaking in the Officers Mess in our free time and not very serious about our future, he had
plans for his future and wanted to live a happy life.
Bhathiya was an avid reader of Military History. He used to learn about Artillery units
of other Armies. He trained his gun crews very well. Apart from looking after guns, he was given an
additional task to escort Mannar-Anuradhapura logistic convoys, which he loved to, perform despite
enemy landmine threat. He always volunteered to escort convoy in one of the two legs, either from
Mannar to Murunkan or from Murunkan to Madawachchiya/Anuradhapura. Whether he is training his
gun crews in Thalladi or doing convoy duties, he used to wear his uniforms very smartly. His boots were
always “spit and polished” and shining like a mirror. His men were very fond of him. He always trained
his men to be professionally very competent. He was an exemplary military leader to his men.
One of these days Bhathiya will come to my detachment on a holiday. He enjoyed driving
his open jeep in Mannar roads. I used to take him to Sand Banks off Talimannar. We leave after sunset
in our boats and camp out in the Sand Bank for the night. On a moonlit night, while drinking Rockland
Lemon gin with fresh lime soda, (we used to get four bottles of local hard liquor per month on duty-free
rate. At that time, the most preferred brand was Rockland Lemon Gin), eating deep-fried jumbo prawns,
sitting on the edge of the sandbank with feet in sea water, and he will start advising me on the
importance of a married life, which was Greek to me those young days. Not like us, he had a clear vision
and wanted to live a long and a happy married life.
As he got married to Shashi, who was his school time sweetheart and relative, the
daughter of Army Commander General Hamilton Wanasinghe, VSV, USP, ndc (who later became CDS
and Defence Secretary), he never used this connection to be away from War. Few days after his wedding,
he went back to the War front. He was always brave and patriotic.
Bhathiya and Sashi had two lovely daughters, Druveesh and Sachini. Much later in
service, when I asked about his two daughters, his eyes used to light up and used to say “I am their
hero”. Bhathiya paid supreme sacrifice during the Elephant Pass battle on 22nd April 2000.
I was not able to attend his funeral as I was involved in a special mission in the Eastern
area and I asked my wife Yamuna to attend. There were two funerals of distinguished Royalists who
had made the supreme sacrifice on the same day at the Borella general cemetery. They are; Major
General Percy Fernando of the Commando Regiment and Brigadier Bhathiya Jayatilleka of the Artillery
Regiment. Both paid supreme sacrifice during the Elephant Pass battle.
My wife who is considered as a “strong” lady in the military circles cried for days
recollecting how Bhathiya’s two daughters wept during the funeral. She says no child should ever go
through such an agony in their life.
We were invited to the weddings of both the daughters of Bhathiya last year. We saw
the void Bhathiya has created to his loving wife and two daughters with his untimely demise. Pictures
of young Bhathiya with Shashi and daughters were flashed during both the Weddings as a tribute to
him. He sacrificed his life for the betterment of all the Sri Lankan children. And we shall never forget
him, Brigadier Bhathiya Jayatilleka, RSP, IG, our Royal College Cadet Platoon buddy.
