Six sons in the army

War has been ‘the’ topic on every Sri Lankan’s lips for more than two decades. While many talk in general, analysing the gains and setbacks, for retired policeman Nelson Palliyaguru, 72, and his wife Soma Vitharana, 67, of Weherahena, Matara everything that happens in the war is of crucial importance as their six sons are all serving in the army in various parts of the country.

“When my first two sons joined the army in 1984 there was no war as there is now. I myself found the applications and filled them with their consent and sent them to the army,” Soma recalled.

She said that at that time, she thought that it was better for her sons to join the army rather than follow any other profession. The two elder sons of the Palliyaguru family, Anura, 47 and Sanath, 44 were selected from the first interview they faced and sent for training to the Diyatalawa camp.

“They completed their training in the same year and Anura was assigned to the 3rd Gemunu Sewa Force and Sanath to the Sri Lanka Machinery Engineering Force,” she said adding that presently, her eldest son is an Army Corporal in Point Pedro and her second son a Sergeant at the Udawalawa Camp.

Both Anura and Sanath took part in the famous Vadamarachchi Operation in 1987 and had been awarded medals for their conduct. When the two came home on infrequent holidays, their conversations would centre on the battle field.

Given such a family background, it was not so much of a surprise when the third son, Ajith, 39 had sought permission to follow the footsteps of his elder brothers in the military. “Well, we didn’t object though the war had turned out to be worse by then. It was his wish and as parents we blessed him,” Soma said. Their third son joined the army in 1988 and was assigned to the 4th Vijayaba Regiment but was wounded during the battles at Elephant Pass.

“He continued as a soldier even after he was wounded but after a service of 12 years, he retired as he needed time to recover before rejoining. Now he is planning to join the army again as he has recovered completely,” she said. She says that although her son was wounded, she and her husband firmly believed that their blessings would protect him.

Captain Sampath Palliyaguru, 37, who joined the army and was assigned to the 4th Vijayaba Infantry Regiment soon after his brother, is presently working at the Kukuleganga Army Training Camp with a proud service of 17 years.

“Our fifth son Anil who is 34 is a Corporal in the same regiment to which Sampath was assigned. He is based in the Vavuniya camp at the moment,” Soma said.

Two years after Anil had joined the army, the youngest son of the family, Nuwan Nadeera, now 31 too joined up in 1997. He is a Lance Corporal working in Kankesanthurai.

“His brothers asked him not to join the army though we didn’t object,” says Soma adding that after their experiences at the battlefront, the elder brothers thought that it would be too hard for their youngest brother. But Nuwan having heard and seen enough could not suppress his eagerness to join the army.

“He used to spend most of his time wearing his brothers’ army jackets whenever they came home on vacation. Trying to stop him from joining the army would have been fighting a losing battle,” their mother said with a smile. The only remaining child who is not in the army is their youngest, the only daughter in the family. “She neither wanted to join the army nor did she get any encouragement from her brothers,” says Soma.

Nelson, who has 14 grandchildren, does not talk much due to ill health but said he was happy and proud of his sons though sometimes he feels sad as they rarely get to come home on vacation.

“The last time the whole family got together was at Sampath’s wedding,” Soma added with a sigh. “No mother likes to send her children towards danger. Sometimes I feel something burning within me when I think that all my sons are in the army. I don’t sleep most nights. I have faith that my sons will have the blessings of Lord Buddha and the protection of all the Gods,” she said tearfully.