An old soldier never dies

Unforgettable Reminiscences of a War Hero - The late Brigadier Sarath Ambowa who sacrificed his life for the nation

February 18, 2020, marks the first death anniversary of Brigadier Sarath Ambowa, RWP, RSP USP (Retired) of the Sri Lanka Infantry (SLII) Regiment, who sacrificed his life for the territorial integrity of mother Sri Lanka, at a crucial stage of a ruthless battle against LTTE in 1994.  
The military honours he received amid a sea of Army Officers, troops led by Army Commander Shavendra Silva and other mourners manifestly made a lasting impression on the valiant efforts made by Brigadier Sarath Ambowa, as a fearless leader who directed his troops from the front until he was permanently disabled at the battlefront in 1994.  

Brig. Ambowa

His concern for the innocent civilians as well as the fellow soldiers as a field commander was exceptional in that his cheerful and affable personality had always been a tower of strength to all those working with him and those soldiers under his command respected him as children would to a kind and considerate father. Probably, this personality trait would have been the prime secret why he was able to maintain a high degree of morale and motivation in the throes of fierce battles he led in the Eastern theatre and especially as a young commanding officer (Captain) of the Kaluwanchikkudi Army Base in the 1990s.  
Just before the attack on the Kaluwanchikkudi unsuccessful army camp by LTTE, on the orders of the government, 899 police officers of the Kalmunai, Batticaloa and Ampara Police Stations were cold-blooded once they were surrendered to the LTTE. Similar surrender orders also reached Captain Ambawa.  
It was a decisive moment of his life whether to lay his weapons and surrender to the LTTE with his soldiers numbering over 400. He knew very well that the LTTE moratorium was a manipulated ruse that could no longer be trusted. His conscience said that the total massacre of the 899 Police personnel would befall on his troupe too, had he complied with the order of his superiors at the behest of the ill-advised and short-sighted politicians. 
It is most unfortunate that the Police Department did not have a fearless officer in the calibre of Brigadier Ambowa in the Eastern Region. 
His efforts to reason out his inability to agree with the surrender orders was futile and the angry Brigadier dashed the communication equipment admonishing him that Captain Ambowa and his troupe would no longer receive his support.  
This isolation of support from the hierarchy at a time when a major battle was taking place in a remote area did not deter him and the same day the camp was attacked from all corners and the ensuing battle culminated in the deaths of 274 LTTE terrorists.  
Unexpectedly the fate of destiny dawned in the second day of the battle when General Kobbekaduwa was appointed thus replacing Brigadier Rohan Daluwatte and this replacement was a solace to him and his troupe. To make matters worse, about ten police personnel of the Kaluwanchikkudi Police Station who did not want to surrender to LTTE came and sought his protection.  
Displaying his magnanimity and humanity, Brigadier Ambowa entertained them with both hands and asked them to wear army uniforms and ordered them to retaliate under his command, if the hostilities continued.  
To assist General Kobbekaduwa, Field Marshall Sarath Fonseka was also dispatched from the 01st Singha Regiment, Veyangoda. Considering the importance of saving of the lives of the soldiers marooned at the Kaluwanchikkudi army camp, a special contingent of the Special Force led by Major General, Gamini Hettiarachchi.   
The adroit manner and the endurance, in which he protected the Kaluwanchikkudi Army Camp, for 19 days, without basic facilities and a depleted stock of rations was a text-book gallantry for the Sri Lanka Army. Brigadier Ambowa’s far-reaching vision and mission is a source of encouragement and inspiration to all officers and other ranks.  
This brave and courageous officer became a permanently disabled soldier as a result of gun-shot injuries he sustained to the spinal code confining himself to a wheelchair, in the battle-field at Angodawillu in the Eastern Province. 
Despite his disablement, he was able ‘to render yeoman service to the Army in various capacities he held such as Commander of the Special Forces, Commanding Officer, Ranaviru Sevana, Ragama, Director of “Senehasa” Education Centre, Secretary, National Para Olympics Committee. He laid his life as a result of a massive heart-attack after rendering 33 years of unparalled and distinguished service to our motherland.  
On completion of his secondary education at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala, he enlisted to the regular force of the Sri Lanka Army as an officer cadet and earned held responsible positions in the SLII and SF Regiments.  
Brigadier Sarath Ambowa was fortunate enough to be decorated with as many as 12 medals as given hereunder for his well- deserved act of bravery and dedication in recognizing of his unblemished and distinguished service rendered to Sri Lanka Army. 
“Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama, Uttama Seva Padakkama, Desha Puthra Sammanaya, East Humanitarian Operation Medal, North Humanitarian Operation Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal, Sri Lanka 50th Anniversary Medal, The Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal”  
The large gathering that thronged at the funeral and the wayside leading to Kurunegala Cemetery witnessed the presence of the present Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva and several Senior Officers parading in the funeral procession.  
It must be stated here that he was able to inculcate sterling leadership traits partly due to the academic and professional acumen he gained from professional and military organizations both in Sri Lanka and abroad. The Special Forces Basic Course, Yong Officers Course, Junior Command Course in India gave him the much-needed foresight and acumen. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Defense Studies from General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University Ratmalana.  
It is during this era where he sought my intervention to clarify certain management techniques and concepts. There were instances where our conversation on difficult modules took hours and hours burning mid-night oil. He thanked me profusely after reading the book - The Art of War by Sun Tzu, a Chinese Warrior, I gifted to him on my return from the National University of Singapore (NUS). It was a coincidence that an Indian (retired) Army General who studied together in India called over at the residence of Brigadier Ambowa, unexpectedly just before the removal of the coffin to pay his last respect from India. This shows the degree of affability with which Brigadiers Arnbowa interacted with his colleagues and friends.  
This tribute to my late friend would not be complete, if I do not touch upon his relentless dedication and humanity he displayed towards the marginalized segment of the society in the enhancement of their livelihood, education and financial woes etc. He generously extended his hands to brilliant students of his mother’s village Uhumiya whose higher studies were interrupted due to lack of financial resources.  
There were a number of medical doctors, engineers, accountants, teachers, nurses, university students and other persons of social strata who called over in large numbers with their families and paid last respect to late Brigadier Ambowa by worshipping him at his coffin as gratitude. 
I wonder whether the famous adage “Old soldiers never die, they simply fade away” is equally applicable to him, as the Army Commander has very correctly mentioned in his Special Part 1 Oder. Your magnanimous accomplishment and the incalculable contribution he rendered to the nation, especially to the 400 soldiers held in captive in the Kalawanchikudy Army Camp and their families would be fondly remembered. If not for his foresight and endurance, the history would tell us another tragic massacre engineered by spineless politicians.  
May you attain the Supreme Bliss of Nirvana.  

J.A.A.S. Ranasinghe  
Colombo 05.