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← Older revision		Revision as of 20:32, 7 November 2022
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	{{Short description\|Sri Lankan Army Officer}}		{{Short description\|Sri Lankan Army Officer}}
	{{More footnotes\|date=May 2022}}		{{More footnotes\|date=May 2022}}
	{{use dmy dates\|date=February ~~2022~~}}		{{use dmy dates\|date=February 2018}}
	{{EngvarB\|date=February ~~2022~~}}		{{EngvarB\|date=February 2018}}
	{{Infobox military person		{{Infobox military person
	\|honorific_prefix = [[Major General (Sri Lanka)\|Major General]]		\|honorific_prefix = [[Major General (Sri Lanka)\|Major General]]
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	===Operation Liberation===		===Operation Liberation===
	{{main\|Vadamarachchi Operation}}		{{main\|Vadamarachchi Operation}}
	[[Vadamarachchi Operation\|Operation Liberation]] (commonly known as the Vadamarachchi Operation) was launched after months of planning on 26 May 1987. [[Colonel]] Wimalaratne was one of the field commanders of the operation, serving as the [[Brigade Commander]] of the 1st Brigade which consisted of the [[Gemunu Watch\|1st Gemunu Watch]] and [[Gajaba Regiment\|1st Gajaba Battalion]]. The [[brigade group]] consisting of the 1st Brigade and 3rd Brigade, commanded by Brigadier [[Denzil Kobbekaduwa]] it was the largest formation deployed by the Sri Lankan Army at that point and the first [[conventional warfare\|conventional battle]] to take place in the civil war. The objective was to take the territory of [[Vadamarachchi]] in the [[Jaffna peninsula]] from [[LTTE]] (Tamil Tiger) control. 1st Brigade broke-out of Thondamanaru area with the infantry wading across the lagoon, but was stopped by a mine-field. With the [[combat engineer]]s clearing a path across, 1st Gajaba Battalion broke-out and reaching the coast, troops from the 1st Brigade defeating the defensive line commanded by the LTTE leader [[Soosai]], made a 90 degree turn undertaking a pincer movement capturing Valvettithurai. By 31 May, the government declared that the Vadamarachchi region recaptured. During the operation Kobbekaduwa and Wimalaratne were nearly killed when the house closed to them exploded due to a bobby-trap.<ref name="Wickremesekera1">{{cite book \|last1=Wickremesekera \|first1=Channa \|title=The Tamil Separatist War in Sri Lanka \|date=2016 \|publisher=Routeledge \|isbn=9781317293859 \|edition=1 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=486jCwAAQBAJ&q=The+Tamil+Separatist+War+in+Sri+Lanka \|access-date=19 July ~~2022~~}}</ref>		[[Vadamarachchi Operation\|Operation Liberation]] (commonly known as the Vadamarachchi Operation) was launched after months of planning on 26 May 1987. [[Colonel]] Wimalaratne was one of the field commanders of the operation, serving as the [[Brigade Commander]] of the 1st Brigade which consisted of the [[Gemunu Watch\|1st Gemunu Watch]] and [[Gajaba Regiment\|1st Gajaba Battalion]]. The [[brigade group]] consisting of the 1st Brigade and 3rd Brigade, commanded by Brigadier [[Denzil Kobbekaduwa]] it was the largest formation deployed by the Sri Lankan Army at that point and the first [[conventional warfare\|conventional battle]] to take place in the civil war. The objective was to take the territory of [[Vadamarachchi]] in the [[Jaffna peninsula]] from [[LTTE]] (Tamil Tiger) control. 1st Brigade broke-out of Thondamanaru area with the infantry wading across the lagoon, but was stopped by a mine-field. With the [[combat engineer]]s clearing a path across, 1st Gajaba Battalion broke-out and reaching the coast, troops from the 1st Brigade defeating the defensive line commanded by the LTTE leader [[Soosai]], made a 90 degree turn undertaking a pincer movement capturing Valvettithurai. By 31 May, the government declared that the Vadamarachchi region recaptured. During the operation Kobbekaduwa and Wimalaratne were nearly killed when the house closed to them exploded due to a bobby-trap.<ref name="Wickremesekera1">{{cite book \|last1=Wickremesekera \|first1=Channa \|title=The Tamil Separatist War in Sri Lanka \|date=2016 \|publisher=Routeledge \|isbn=9781317293859 \|edition=1 \|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=486jCwAAQBAJ&q=The+Tamil+Separatist+War+in+Sri+Lanka \|access-date=19 July 2019}}</ref>

	===JVP Insurrection===		===JVP Insurrection===

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{{Short description|Sri Lankan Army Officer}}
{{More footnotes|date=May 2022}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
|honorific_prefix = [[Major General (Sri Lanka)|Major General]]
|name= Vijaya Wimalaratne
|honorific_suffix = [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama|RWP]], [[Rana Sura Padakkama|RSP]], [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya|VSV]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama|USP]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1940|08|25|df=y}}
|birth_place =
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1992|08|08|1940|08|25|df=y}}{{KIA}}
|death_place = Point Arali, [[Kayts|Kayts Island]], Sri Lanka
|image = Vijaya Wimalaratne.JPG
|caption =
|nickname = Jungle Wimale
|allegiance = Sri Lanka
|serviceyears = 1962-1992{{KIA}}
|rank = [[File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-7.svg|10px]] [[Major General (Sri Lanka)|Major general]] (posthumously promoted)
|branch = {{army|Sri Lanka}}
|commands = Security Forces – Jaffna, Amphibious Task Force, Commander Garrison Command -Colombo, 1st Brigade, 1st Gajaba Battalion
|unit = [[Gajaba Regiment]]
|battles = [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]
|awards = [[File:Rana wickrama medal.svg|23px]] [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]] [[File:Rana sura medal.svg|23px]] [[Rana Sura Padakkama]] 
[[File:Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal bar.svg|23px]] [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]] [[File:Uttama Seva ribbon bar.svg|23px]] [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]]
|laterwork=
}}
[[Major General (Sri Lanka)|Major General]] '''Vanigamuni Indrajith Vijeyakumar Mendis Wimalaratne''', [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama|RWP]], [[Rana Sura Padakkama|RSP]], [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya|VSV]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama|USP]], [[psc (British Army)|psc]], [[Gajaba Regiment|GR]] ({{lang-si|විජය විමලරත්න}}; 25 August 1940 – 8 August 1992) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer. One of the most distinguished field commanders in Sri Lanka, Wimalaratne raised the [[Gajaba Regiment]], he commanded the 1st Brigade during the [[Vadamarachchi Operation]], he commanded the Amphibious Task Force Commander during [[Operation Balavegaya]] and was the [[Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna|Commander Security Forces – Jaffna]] at the time of his death in a land mine explosion at Point Arali in the [[Kayts|Kayts Island]] while making preparations to re-capture Jaffna.

==Early life and education==
Born on 25 August 1940, second of a family of eight boys, Wimalaratne was educated at [[Royal College, Colombo]].<ref name="DN1">[http://archives.dailynews.lk/2009/08/08/fea01.asp Icon of unparalleled bravery and commitment]</ref>

==Military career==



===Early career===
Wimalaratne joined the Ceylon Army as an [[Officer Cadet]] in August 1962 and underwent training at the [[Indian Military Academy]], in [[Dehradun]] as part of the first batch of four Ceylonese cadets sent to Dehradun. There he was the first foreign cadet to be appointed [[Battalion]] [[Cadet]] [[Adjutant]] in his final term. On his return, he was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the newly formed [[Gemunu Watch]] on 1 August 1963, leaving soon after for a jungle warfare course in [[Malaysia]] at the [[British Army Jungle Warfare Training School]]. Serving with the 1st Battalion, Gemunu Watch as a [[Subaltern (military)|subaltern]], he was appointed [[adjutant]] of the 2nd(Volunteer) Battalion, Gemunu Watch in 1968. In 1970, he was appointed as an [[Drill instructor|instructor]] conducting the jungle warfare phase for Officer Cadets at the [[Sri Lanka Military Academy|Army Training Center]] (ATC) in [[Diyatalawa]]. He served till 1979 becoming the Chief Instructor of the Army Training Center, having introduced training on [[urban warfare]] and [[counter-insurgency]]. In 1976, Major Wimalaratne served as the [[Liaison Officer]] to the Indian Prime Minister [[Indira Gandhi]] when she took part in the [[Non-Aligned Movement|Non-Aligned Summit in Colombo]]. He attended the [[British Army Staff College]] at [[Camberley]]<ref>[https://alt.army.lk/gajabaregiment/founder-father-of-the-gajaba-regiment FOUNDER FATHER OF THE GAJABA REGIMENT]</ref><ref>[http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=184136 50th Anniversary of the Incomparable First Intake at the Officer Cadets School, Diyatalawa]</ref><ref name="DN1"/>

===Gajaba Regiment===
In 1983, Major Wimalaratne was appointed as the first [[Commanding Officer]] of the [[Gajaba Regiment]] when it was formed on 14 October 1983 with the amalgamation of the [[Rajarata Rifles]] and [[Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment]] at the [[Saliyapura Army Camp]]. Promoted to [[Lieutenant Colonel]], he played a major role in forming and expanding the Gajaba Regiment as one of the elite infantry regiments in the army and is remembered as its founder. Wimalaratne served as the commanding office the 1st Gajaba Battalion from its formation in October 1983 to August 1987. The 1st Gajaba Battalion was deployed to the Jaffna peninsula between 1983 and 1984 and again in 1985 with the escalation of the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]. In addition, during this time Wimalaratne served as Acting Commander, North Central Command and Deputy Commander (Operations), [[Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna|Security Forces Jaffna]].<ref name="DN1"/><ref>[http://www.army.lk/morenews.php?id=17872 Gajaba Regiment Silver Jubile]</ref> In 1985, he help initiate the [[Sri Lanka Army Special Forces|Army Special Forces]] program having established the first Special Forces Squadrons.<ref>[http://www.sundaytimes.lk/100801/Plus/plus_06.html Saluting a true leader in battle as we enjoy the fruits of the end of war]</ref><ref>[http://pdfs.island.lk/defence/20130619_146.html Eelam war I: The Wimalaratne factor]</ref>

===Operation Liberation===
{{main|Vadamarachchi Operation}}
[[Vadamarachchi Operation|Operation Liberation]] (commonly known as the Vadamarachchi Operation) was launched after months of planning on 26 May 1987. [[Colonel]] Wimalaratne was one of the field commanders of the operation, serving as the [[Brigade Commander]] of the 1st Brigade which consisted of the [[Gemunu Watch|1st Gemunu Watch]] and [[Gajaba Regiment|1st Gajaba Battalion]]. The [[brigade group]] consisting of the 1st Brigade and 3rd Brigade, commanded by Brigadier [[Denzil Kobbekaduwa]] it was the largest formation deployed by the Sri Lankan Army at that point and the first [[conventional warfare|conventional battle]] to take place in the civil war. The objective was to take the territory of [[Vadamarachchi]] in the [[Jaffna peninsula]] from [[LTTE]] (Tamil Tiger) control. 1st Brigade broke-out of Thondamanaru area with the infantry wading across the lagoon, but was stopped by a mine-field. With the [[combat engineer]]s clearing a path across, 1st Gajaba Battalion broke-out and reaching the coast, troops from the 1st Brigade defeating the defensive line commanded by the LTTE leader [[Soosai]], made a 90 degree turn undertaking a pincer movement capturing Valvettithurai. By 31 May, the government declared that the Vadamarachchi region recaptured. During the operation Kobbekaduwa and Wimalaratne were nearly killed when the house closed to them exploded due to a bobby-trap.<ref name="Wickremesekera1">{{cite book |last1=Wickremesekera |first1=Channa |title=The Tamil Separatist War in Sri Lanka |date=2016 |publisher=Routeledge |isbn=9781317293859 |edition=1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=486jCwAAQBAJ&q=The+Tamil+Separatist+War+in+Sri+Lanka |access-date=19 July 2022}}</ref>

===JVP Insurrection===
With the second phase of Operation Liberation being abandoned with the Indian intervention by [[Operation Poomalai]] and the arrival of the [[Indian Peace Keeping Force]] (IPKF), the [[1987–1989 JVP insurrection]] began in the south of the country. Colonel Wimalaratne was appointed Commander, Garrison Command - Colombo; in charge of defense of the capital in late 1987. In 1988, he received concurrent appointment as the Principal Staff Officer, [[Joint Operations Command (Sri Lanka)|Joint Operations Command]] (JOC) and serving as its Director Operations. He held both posts until the insurrection was subdued in late 1989 with the capture of the leader of the JVP.<ref name="DN1"/>

===Northern front===
{{main|Operation Balavegaya}}
Promoted to [[Brigadier]], he volunteered to take up command in Jaffna under [[Major General]] Kobbekaduwa, who was the [[General Officer Commanding]], 2nd Division with the resumption of hostilities after the IPKF withdrew. In June 1990, the LTTE laid siege around Jaffna Fort and Wimalaratne played a major role in evacuating the garrison. The army had nominated Wimalaratne for the National Security and Strategic Study course at the [[National Defence College (India)|National Defence College]] in India, however he had turned down the opportunity to remain in the front. On 10 July 1991 the LTTE launched a surprise attack on the strategic base of [[Elephant Pass]] and laid siege to the garrison. The Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General [[Hamilton Wanasinghe]] appointed Wimalaratne as the Amphibious Task Force Commander in the [[Operation Balavegaya]] which was going to be the first amphibious operation undertaken by the Sri Lanka Army. Under the Overall Command of Major General Kobbekaduwa, Wimalaratne lead the Amphibious Task Force on a successful landing in the evening of 15 July 1991 after the first attempt was delayed due to heavy resistance from the enemy. The task force broke out of the breach head and move 12 miles to relieve the siege of the garrison. During the operation, Wimalaratne was almost killed when an LTTE mortar landed in the spot he had been standing minutes prior.<ref name="DN1"/><ref>[http://www.dailynews.lk/2017/08/08/features/124463/warrior-withered-legend-never-will Warrior withered, legend never will]</ref> In January 1991, Brigadier Wimalaratne succeeded Brigadier Jaliya Nanmuni as [[Brigade Commander]], [[Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna|21 "Jaffna" Brigade]].

==Death==
[[File:Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne Statue at Kiribathgoda - II.jpg|right|upright|thumb|Maj Gen Vijaya Wimalaratne Statue at Kiribathgoda Town.]]
In July 1992, Major General [[Denzil Kobbekaduwa]] who was now [[General Officer Commanding]] [[Northern Province, Sri Lanka|Northern Sector]] and Brigadier Vijaya Wimalaratne who was the [[Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna|Commander, 21 "Jaffna" Brigade]], began planning an offensive code named "Operation Final Countdown" to recapture the northern peninsula from the LTTE. Final preparations were underway and the senior commanders decided to visit Araly Point on [[Kayts]] which was the launching pad for the offensive. According to the official statement by the army, on their return, the [[Land Rover]] driven by Brigadier Vijaya Wimalaratne was destroyed by a [[land mine]] blast. Brigadier Wimalaratne was killed instantly along with [[Commodore (rank)|Commodore]] (posthumously Rear Admiral) [[Mohan Jayamaha]], Commander Northern Naval Area and seven others including Commander Asanga Lankathilaka, Lt. Colonels G.H. Ariyaratne, A. Palipahana, H.R. Stephen, all three battalion commanders and Major N.S. De Alwis, General Kobbekaduwa's [[Aide-de-camp|ADC]]. General Kobbekaduwa was found alive critically wounded and transferred by helicopter to Colombo where he succumbed to his wounds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nation.lk/2006/08/06/eyefea6.htm |title=Warriors of our time |access-date=25 June 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831032643/http://www.nation.lk/2006/08/06/eyefea6.htm |archive-date=31 August 2006 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It has been claimed by [[Jane's Information Group]] that the assassination was by the LTTE.<ref>[http://www.janes.com/security/international_security/news/sentinel/sent000904_6_n.shtml Jane's Sentinel examines the success of the LTTE in resisting the Sri Lankan forces]</ref>

===Funeral===
His funeral took place at the Colombo General Cemetery with full military honors, having been posthumously promoted to the rank of [[Major General (Sri Lanka)|major general]].<ref name="DN1"/>

==Legacy==
General Vijaya Wimalaratne is considered as the founder of the Gajaba Regiment and one of the finest field commanders of the Sri Lanka Army. A statue of General Vijaya Wimalaratne was erected at Kiribathgoda Town.<ref name="DN1"/>

==Awards and decorations==
Wimalaratne had been awarded the [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]] and [[Rana Sura Padakkama]] for gallantry and the [[Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal]], [[Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal|Army 25th Anniversary Medal]], [[President's Inauguration Medal]], [[Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal]], [[Vadamarachchi Operation Medal]] and the [[Purna Bhumi Padakkama]]. He was posthumously awarded [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]] and [[Desha Putra Sammanaya]].<ref name="DN1"/>

'''In Order of Precedence'''
* [[File:Rana Wickrama Padakkama Bar.png|70px]]  [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]]
* [[File:Rana Sura Padakkama bar.GIF|70px]]  [[Rana Sura Padakkama]]
* [[File:Uttama Seva Padakkama Bar.gif|70px]]  [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]]
* [[File:Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services ribbon bar.svg|70px]]  [[Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal]]
* [[File:Purna Bhumi Padakkama ribbon bar.svg|70px]]  [[Purna Bhumi Padakkama]]
* [[File:North and East Operations Medal ribbon bar.svg|70px]]   [[North and East Operations Medal]]

==Family==
Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne was married to Manel Wimalaratne and they had a two sons<ref>http://www.kaputa.co./news209{{dead link|date=July 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and a daughter. He had nine brothers in his family. His son Dr Hiran Wimalaratne, is a [[lieutenant colonel]] in the [[Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps]] and his daughter Dr Nishanthi Wimalaratne serves in the Cardio-logical Unit of the Colombo General Hospital.<ref name="DN1"/>

He has two Grandsons, both of them are scouts of the 42nd Colombo Royal College Scout Group, His eldest grandson Yuvin Wimalaratne is the current Assistant Senior Troop Leader of the Group whilst his youngest grandson Yasitha Adikaramge was a Assistant Troop Leader of a Troop in the Scout Group.

Yuvin Wimalaratne has been an inspiration for many scouts, as well as non scouts, as he was known as a revolutionist among the scouts of Royal College Colombo.

He has 2 grandsons both scouts of Royal College. Yuvin Wimalaratne his elder grandson is now a well known senior scout. He also has a grand daughter.-->

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External list==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101219213013/http://defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20060808_04 Great Generals remembered with respect, gratitude and affection, Ministry of Defence]
*[http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=2399& Eelam War II - "Operation Balavegaya", LankaLibrary Forum]
*[http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=4258&sid=c70122f4f33a88409cf183aa58e7037f Lieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa, LankaLibrary Forum]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wimalaratne, Vijaya}}
[[Category:1992 deaths]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan major generals]]
[[Category:Landmine victims]]
[[Category:Alumni of Royal College, Colombo]]
[[Category:Indian Military Academy alumni]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan military personnel killed in action]]
[[Category:People killed during the Sri Lankan Civil War]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:Sinhalese military personnel]]
[[Category:Gemunu Watch officers]]
[[Category:Gajaba Regiment officers]]
[[Category:Indian Peace Keeping Force]]

Vijaya Wimalaratne - Revision history

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