Left with neither pension nor allowance, ex-volunteer soldier demands justice

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Christy Silva Candappa, 80, says in spite of serving the Army during the two JVP-led insurgencies and the war in the North-East he has been denied a pension or at least an allowance.

Candappa says he retired in 2002 in the rank of Sergeant. Responding to The Island queries, the old soldier explained his efforts over the years hadn’t been successful though he tried to convince Army authorities of him being deprived of pension or an allowance.

Candappa produced copies of 16 appeals he made to the incumbent government since the last presidential election in Nov 2019 after having described his failure to convince Defence Secretary General (retd) Kamal Gunaratne of the urgent need to address the issue at hand.  Candappa said that he had no option but to take his case to the media against the backdrop of the continuing refusal on the part of the Army to address his grievances.

 “I do not blame politicians for this issue. There is no point in finding fault with them. The Army can easily rectify this matter,” Candappa said.

Asked to explain his military career, Candappa said he joined the second battalion of the Ceylon Light Infantry (2/V, CLI) in 1957 and served the Army intermittently for a period of five years. Candappa emphasised that he reported to his battalion every time he was called in. “I received no 19,851 as it was a smaller Army with few volunteer units.”

Declaring that he participated in scheduled activities of the battalion without fail during 1957-1962 period, Candappa recalled his deployment in the wake of the 1958 riots and in the immediate aftermath of 1959 assassination of Premier S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike.

Candappa said that during that period the volunteers were paid a daily allowance of 50 cents, one rupee and Rs 2.

“I loved participating in the Independence Day parade,” Candappa said, recalling him being transferred to the Second battalion of the then Ceylon Army Service Corps (2/V, CASC) in 1962. Candappa said that his unit number was 3385 and served the new unit for a period of 10 years before leaving taking leave without pay.

Candappa said that from 1972 to 1982 he served as an English tour guide and never believed in receiving another opportunity to serve the Army. However, at the behest of the then President Ranasinghe Premadasa those who had left active service were called back in 1988 to bolster the Army, Candappa said, adding that he held the rank of Lance Corporal at that time and served the 2/V CASC  till 2002.

 Having won the violence marred 1988 presidential election, UNP leader Premadasa faced the daunting task of meeting the JVP challenge in the South, Candappa said, pointing out how the Indian Army took control in the North-East. Once India quit Sri Lanka, fighting resumed with the Army suffering a series of setbacks in the northerner theatre, Candappa said.

“I served in Kankesanthurai, Palaly, Chavakachcheri, Paranthan Elephant Pass, Iyakchchi and Kilinochchi in the North in addition to Weli Oya, Siripura, Ethawetunawewa, Pulmoddai, Valaichenai, Vakarai, Kayankerni , Kadjukale and Kalkudah.” Candappa said that perhaps the Army made some mistake as many documents pertaining to his service during 1957-1972 period were in English. “But, that is no excuse to deprive me of a pension or an allowance,” -Candappa said, adding that during a confrontation in Paranthan he received injuries in an LTTE mortar attack. In spite of the back injury he hadn’t opted to seek a transfer out of the war zone, Candappa said. The old soldier questioned the rationale in depriving him of a pension whereas those who had been categorised as wounded now received a pension after serving the Army for 12 years.