Gentle giant who fought to the death

Remembering Late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera, WWV, RSP

(From the book, ‘Between the Lines’)

Late Commander Parakrama Samaraweera, WWV, RSP was an outstanding naval officer. He studied at Kingswood College, Kandy, and also captained the college Rugby Football team. He was a top athlete and great basketball player as sell. He was blessed with a towering height of six feet and four inches.

His friends called him ‘Nalaka’, and I do not know how he got that name. He joined the Navy in 1979 (one year before me) and won the ‘Sword of Honour’ presented to the Best Cadet Officer at the end of the one-year basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee.

When we first met him in the Academy, we were scared due to his height and rough voice, but soon we realised he was a gentle giant with an amiable disposition.

My close association with Nalaka came on the rugby field. First, he asked me to take part in the Inter-Command Rugby Tournament to play for the Training Command team. Even though I had good basic skills in rugby, as I had attended Summa Navaratnam’s Rugby training sessions, during the weekends at the CR and FC grounds (thanks to my late father), I did not play much competitive Rugby at Royal.

Nalaka, who was our Captain in the Training Command team, insisted that I pair him as the second row forward in our team. I obeyed him reluctantly. We played well, and I was also selected to the Navy Rugby pool.

Nalaka was very happy. As trainees, at that time, we would not get the luxury of being at the Walisara Navy camp with the other Navy Rugby pool members. We had to travel by train from Trincomalee to Colombo for matches during weekends and return to Trincomalee in the night mail train to be at the Parade Ground by 07.30 a.m. on Mondays.

I liked the idea. It was much better to travel to Colombo to play matches on weekends than to do cleaning of messes and run around the Naval Dockyard on weekends. I could have a beer after the match, visit my mother, sisters and friends and to return on Sunday night. I loved the opportunity and thanked Nalaka profusely for having got me to play rugby.

Nalaka taught me the first lesson of survival. We got Class Three train tickets to travel to Colombo and back. There were no reservations and weekend night mail was always very crowded. Before our first trip to Colombo, Nalaka told me “Hey! Ensure you carry a newspaper and a towel before boarding the train tomorrow”.

I was wondering whether we were going to have a sea bath or a swim after the match, but why a newspaper? At the Trincomalee railway station, I asked that question from Nalaka, who told me, “Bloody idiot! You are going to play a rugger match tomorrow! You must get some good sleep tonight. When the crowd settles down in the train put your newspaper on the floor and sleep. Keep your bag as your pillow, otherwise you will lose it with all your belongings. Don’t look for me. I will be doing the same. I will wake you up when we reach the Ragama station”. (We used to get down at Ragama to proceed to our Welisara Navy Camp). “What a bright idea

!” I said “OK, Sir”, but, like an idiot I asked him again, “Excuse me, Sir! Why did you ask me to carry a towel?” He was outraged. “You bloody idiot! You must cover your beautiful face with that towel wh

en you are sleeping on the floor. Otherwise, sailors traveling in the train will see you and tomorrow they will report to the Training Commander saying, “We saw Cadet Wijegunaratne sleeping on the floor in a Class-Three compartment! And both of us will be in trouble”. That was Nalaka.

With the rhythmic swing of the night mail moving fast, I had a good night’s sleep on the floor, covering my face with a towel and my travelling bag as my pillow!

After matches, Nalaka used to visit his sweetheart, Achini (Sudarshani), who was playing netball at that time and I used to make a beeline home. Before leaving, he always ensured that I had a decent meal after a match.

Our friendship got cemented. We both played Navy rugby together for a number of years. As the Captain of the Navy team, he brought glory to the Navy when we became the runner-up team in the A Division Knockout tournament in 1989. It was a great achievement for the Navy team at that time. He was always like an elder brother to me.

In 1995, both of us were Commanding the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) in the North. I was on patrol and my FAC engines stalled due to an electronic defect and we were drifting dangerously towards enemy held Velvettiturai (VVT). I asked for help and Nalaka came in his FAC and tried to tow us away from the VVT reef. Wind and waves were so strong and his effort was futile and Nalaka’s FAC also started to drift towards the reef dangerously. I shouted, “Sir, let go of the towrope! Otherwise, we both will run aground!” An angry Nalaka shouted back, “No way! I am not leaving you! We both will die together!” He went inside the bridge to give more thrust to his engines. We survived. Such was Nalaka’s friendship.

Nalaka married Achini and had two sons Samitha and Bhathiya. He was a very proud father. It was always a very pleasant sight to see Nalaka coming for rugby practices to the Welisara ground sharp at 4 pm, walking from his married quarters, Rugby jersey on his shoulder, boots around his neck, two kids under his armpits and Achini trailing along behind him. He was a real family man and set a great example to all of us.

While I was dating Yamuna, 

he and Achini supported me. Achini ensured that Yamuna always sat next to her when they come to see the Navy rugby matches.

On 18th July 1996 at 1.30 am, the LTTE terrorists attacked the Mullativu Army complex. The attack was led by LTTE Leader Balraj. Suicide cadres of the LTTE breached the Northern perimeter of the complex and by the first light of 18 July, Mullativu was falling. Reinforcements arrived from Jaffna and Trincomalee in ships and landing craft and SLNS Ranaviru, Commanded by Nalaka was tasked to provide protection to the Sea Convoy that had reached off Mullattivu by mid-day on the 19th.

Nalaka provided Naval gunfire support from the Southern flank off Alampil for troops to land on the beach. The landing was unsuccessful. Ships came under heavy enemy attack. Sea Tigers were trying to target the Landing Craft with their low-profile suicide boats. Since the landing was unsuccessful, orders were issued to withdraw. Nalaka and his crew fought valiantly to protect the troop-carrying ships and Landing Craft until they cleared the critical area.

Nalaka’s boat was hit by an enemy suicide boat, and he lost control of the vessel’s steering. His crew continued to fight. There were only two survivors, and they were picked up by an FAC; they said they had last seen Nalaka on the bridge, firing at the enemy with his rifle. He refused to abandon his ship like a true naval officer; chose to fight to the death so that others would be safe. We lost him out at sea. His body was never recovered.

Achini refused to accept that Nalaka had been killed in action. She waited for him to come home one day, but slowly lost hopes as years went by.

Commander Parakrama Samaraweera was later awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibushanaya for his bravery and valour shown in the face of the enemy off the Mullaithivu seas. His elder son Samitha collected the gallantry medal from the President on his late father’s behalf. His two young sons lost their beloved father.

Later, the two sons joined the Navy following in their illustrious father’s footsteps. Elder son Samitha, who is studious and silent, qualified as a Navy Doctor. The younger son, who is a replica of his father with the same height, gait, smile and mischief, joined the Navy as a Logistician and played rugby for the Navy. The void created by the untimely demise of their father will never be filled.