“Take for instance a captain’s dilemma to decide as to who should play a penalty kick in a decisive moment of a football match. Sarath never had that problem; he always knew his team mates and was at ease in utilizing their skills.That was a trait that would be seen in abundance decades later as he became a decorated soldier, commanding his men some times under trying circumstances.”_________________________________
by Major-General Sunil Tennakoon (Retired)
(March 23, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) It has been a camaraderie spanning into five decades; it began at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala and weathered the heavy fighting in the northern battle front.
In those distant late fifties, young Sarath Munasinghe and I were students of Maliyadeva College.
He was one year senior to me in college, yet our friendship blossomed as we took part in many a sport in which Maliyadeva prides itself.
As we grew up, he emerged to be a prominent and much loved figure among students and teachers alike. Even in those tender years, he stood out from the rest of the class for his sound judgment and leadership qualities.
Young Sarath Munasinghe was a leading athlete and a great footballer - I was indeed privileged to play under his captaincy.
He captained the under sixteen and under nineteen soccer teams. It was during those days of his sportsmanship that first signs of his knack for sound judgment became evident.
Decisive moment
Take for instance a captain’s dilemma to decide as to who should play a penalty kick in a decisive moment of a football match. Sarath never had that problem; he always knew his team mates and was at ease in utilizing their skills.
That was a trait that would be seen in abundance decades later as he became a decorated soldier, commanding his men some times under trying circumstances.
He was sergeant of the cadet platoon of Maliyadeva College and I was a corporal under his leadership. We were both members of the college orchestra. He was also leader of the college band.
Qualities of his leadership were quite obvious in his school days and he was awarded the gold medal for the Most Outstanding Student in 1968.
He left school in 1969 and the following year he joined the Sri Lankan Army.
I followed him, joining the Army a year later. If our schooldays were bound in an inexplicable link of commonalities, our military lives were to be the same.
As military men, we shared a great deal of similarities.
Both of us were enlisted to the Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment—- later both of us commanded the 6 Artillery Regiment.
As young Captains, both of us served as Staff Officers in the Army Headquarters.
As Majors, we served in the same Regiment. Later both of us were posted to the Gurunagar Military Headquarters, which was set up under the leadership of Generals Weerathunga and Ranathunge. Sarath also succeeded me as the Intelligence Officer of Jaffna.
Later, Sarath, as a middle ranking officer, commanded the Six Artillery Regiment and was succeeded by me.
In the following years, he held various positions, climbing up in the change of command.
During his military career spanning 29 years, he served as the Commanding Officer of the 6th Artillery Regiment; Commander 15 Brigade Group, Mannar; Commander 12 Brigade Group, Colombo; Coordinating Officer Welioya; Coordinating Chief Batticaloa, Ampara and Polonnaruwa Districts; General Officer commanding 51 Division and 54 Division.
Later, he served in the strategically important position of the Security Forces Commander Jaffna, which I held years later.
Sarath was loved by his soldiers and officers. He looked after his troops with utmost care and was sensitive to their needs. His book, A Soldier’s Version was dedicated to soldiers who laid their lives for a better tomorrow for this country, is further proof of his attachment to soldiers.
While serving as the first Military Spokesman of the Sri Lankan Force, he also functioned as Director Media Operations Headquarters, Ministry of Defence and Director Media, Army Headquarters whist being the Army spokesman.
I succeeded him as the military spokesman. He later functioned as the Assistant Military Secretary of the Army Headquarters.
He had a natural knack to win people, that is an ability which understandably led him to politics.
Contested
He contested in the General Election in 2001 as a candidate of the People’s Alliance and was elected to Parliament from Kurunegala District. He served as the Deputy Speaker of Parliament.
Recently we, a group of retired military officers, including Major General Munasinghe got together to set up the Defence Services Foundation of Maliyadeva College with the objective to harness our expertise for the betterment of the present students.
This association which is open to both retired and serving officers of the security forces would assist the development of extra curricular activities in the college.
That was the last thing we did together in our camaraderie spanning into over fifty years.
Sarath was a great soldier and an able officer, highly decorated for his service to his motherland.
His commitment to the territorial integrity of his motherland and his dedication to the task he was assigned is unparallel.
To me, he was a great friend and a brother, whose sudden demise is an unbearable loss.
Sarath passed away on March 17 after a brief illness.
He is survived by his wife Dagma and two sons Sampath and Chamila.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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