K. W. T. Nissanka
Encyclopedia
Second LieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
K. W. T. Nissanka PWV
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya , is the highest Sri Lankan military decoration equivalent to the British Victoria Cross , or the United States Medal of Honor, that's awarded as a reward for all ranks of the tri services individual acts of gallantry...
, GR
Gajaba Regiment
The Gajaba Regiment was formed when 1st Battalion the Rajarata Rifles and 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment were amalgamated in 1983 to counter the threat from the LTTE. It is made up of six regular battalions and five volunteer battalions. Headquartered at Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura...
was a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n army officer who was the platoon commander of his platoon. He fought with courage in the face of an enemy attack, sacrificing his life so as to enable his troops of his platoon to withdraw with their injured. He was awarded the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya , is the highest Sri Lankan military decoration equivalent to the British Victoria Cross , or the United States Medal of Honor, that's awarded as a reward for all ranks of the tri services individual acts of gallantry...
, the highest award for valour of the Sri Lanka Army.
Early life
K. W. T. Nissanka attended D.S. Senanayake College and joined the army as a cadet officerCadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
soon after leaving school in 1990. After training he was transferred to the Gajaba Regiment
Gajaba Regiment
The Gajaba Regiment was formed when 1st Battalion the Rajarata Rifles and 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment were amalgamated in 1983 to counter the threat from the LTTE. It is made up of six regular battalions and five volunteer battalions. Headquartered at Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura...
.
The battle of Pooneryn
In November 1993 2nd Lt Nissanka and his platoon was assigned to the Pooneryn Camp and deployed facing Pooneryn just outside the town. Due to pooneryn being a strategic stronghold it was under constant attack by the LTTE. On November 11, 1993, at about 1.30 a.m., the LTTE unleashed a sudden and major offensive on the Pooneryn Camp in order to capture it. The brunt of this attack fell on the lines 2nd Lt. Nissanka's platoon was defending. The first wave was successfully repulsed by the 2nd Lt. Nissanka and his platoon. A second more powerful attack soon followed which came from both the front and the rear of the line. During this time 2nd Lt Nissanka moved from bunker to bunker, encouraging his men, paying no heed to the risk to his own life. He called for reinforcements from the battalion headquarters, but reinforcements couldn’t be sent as the headquarters itself was under attack. By around 5 a.m. 2nd Lt Nissanka was wounded badly, yet even in great pain he continued to command his men. Then with the enemy advancing towards his position, 2nd Lt Nissanka ordered the surviving members of his platoon to withdraw with their wounded. After giving the order he removed the pins on two grenades and ran towards the enemy, the grenades exploded killing him and the attacking terrorists instantly. This gallant action allowed the remainder of his platoon to withdraw to safety with their wounded.For this heroic deed 2nd Lt Nissanka was posthumously honoured with the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya
Parama Weera Vibhushanaya , is the highest Sri Lankan military decoration equivalent to the British Victoria Cross , or the United States Medal of Honor, that's awarded as a reward for all ranks of the tri services individual acts of gallantry...
medal in 1996.
Citation
"It is recommended that 0/61672 2/Lt KWT Nissanka of the Gajaba RegimentGajaba Regiment
The Gajaba Regiment was formed when 1st Battalion the Rajarata Rifles and 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment were amalgamated in 1983 to counter the threat from the LTTE. It is made up of six regular battalions and five volunteer battalions. Headquartered at Saliyapura Camp, Anuradhapura...
, be awarded the Parama Weera Vibushanaya as a reward for his individual acts of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of the most exceptional order in the face of the enemy, performed voluntarily whilst on active service and with no regard to the risks to his own life and security with the objective of safeguarding thereby, the lives of his comrades or facilitating the operational aim of his force,"