Appreciations
View(s):An inspiring leader, he served with honour
BRIGADIER VIPUL BOTEJUE
Brigadier Vipul Botejue’s death on November 25, 2025 after a debilitating illness brought sorrow and grief that will take a very long time to heal not only for his family and relatives but also for his many friends from school and his lifelong companions in the Armed Forces. They all came in their numbers, rarely seen at a military funeral in peace-time.
He blazed a glorious path in the Army. He was the very epitome of a professional and ethical combat leader. Handsome, powerfully built, tall, extremely fit and tough, he was a highly skilled infantry officer who proved himself many times in command and close combat from South to North, winning awards for gallantry. He was a natural inspiring leader, courageous, intelligent, widely read, thoroughly knowledgeable and not only about his profession. He did not tolerate incompetents, shirkers or crooks.
Coming from a family background that respected the best in culture, traditions and morality, he never exulted in taking life in combat. His constant concern in battle was for his soldiers’ lives. He was apolitical. His leadership was such that those who he served and cared for, would literally follow him in battle (to hell and back?) anywhere, with absolute confidence.
He was a man of his word, unafraid to speak his mind, with unquestioned integrity, unselfish and helpful to many. He had received the best of battle training in India and in England. He qualified at a competitive exam and passed the Staff and Command course in Bangladesh – a sine que non for high command. He was also a chief instructor at the Combat Training School, Ampara and Instructor Officer Cadet Wing SL Military Academy, Diyatalawa. Only outstanding officers are selected to be instructors and he imparted his knowledge with enthusiasm and flair.
He was a rare military officer even among a special breed whose contract with the nation is that they do their duty even if they have to die doing it.
The highlight of his career was the splendid victory of the First Battalion Gemunu Watch over the LTTE under his command at the Vadamarachchi battle in 1987. This was a stunning victory, the first ever in conventional warfare against the LTTE. It gave hope of an early end to the conflict. It was however not to be with the advent of the IPKF. He served in Colonel (later Major General) late Wijaya Wimalaratne’s brigade, flanked by Major (later Colonel) Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s Gajaba Battalion. He took his objective well ahead of the flanking battalion to the surprise and delight of all. The flanking brigade was commanded by Brigadier (later Lt. Gen.) Denzil Kobbekaduwa’s brigade.
In earlier night operations in the same area, he as Commanding Officer was by the side of his Company Commander and good friend, the effervescent Major Srimal Mendis who was killed by a grenade attack. This had a devastating effect on him.
A Royalist, he started his career in 1969 as an Army officer cadet of Intake Two in what is now the SL Military Academy Diyatalawa. He was a cut above most. He played basketball and a robust game of rugby for the Diyatalawa Army XV that won the SLRFU ‘C’ Division championship and later for his Regiment. Few know he also played a little cricket for Army Diyatalawa at Badulla where he bowled rip-roaring fast balls.
His operational career began on Anti-Illicit Immigration Operations on the beaches and in the seas of Mannar. Together with Lieutenant (later Lt. Col. Sunil Peiris, founder Commander of the Commandos), he patrolled diligently with his men by day and three nights weekly on land and on boat patrols at sea along Adam’s Bridge. This included swimming in mid-sea to avoid being struck by a shore skirting maduwa (skate)’s vicious tail. He also did anti-smuggling duties equally well in Jaffna with Lt. (later Brig.) T.D. Rajapakse.
He came into the national limelight when leading the search for survivors (there were none of the 191 passengers) with his company soldiers in the horrific Martinair plane crash on the Seven Virgins Mountain range in Maskeliya in 1974. The elusive Black Box was found after a few days of relentless searching in the treacherous ravine below the hills.
Before the Vadamarachchi battle, the Brigadier trained his men very hard and then gave them a week’s leave prior to the impending battle. His Division Commander, Maj. Gen. C.H. Fernando warned him that his men may not report back as desertion was not uncommon. But Lt. Col. Botejue had implicit faith in his men. Except for a couple of privates, the rest came back singing lustily in hired buses after their trucks had broken down.
After Vadamarachchi came the IPKF, uninvited by the people. A few days later, an Indian Colonel arrived at the First Battalion’s gate. He was invited in, warmly received, and pleasantries exchanged. The Indian officer then casually said he would be coming with his battalion the next day to take over the camp. He was told in no uncertain terms to leave immediately and warned that if he came again it would lead to unpleasant consequences. An obsequious Army HQ panicked when informed. The Battalion was immediately packed off to the South. AHQ ordered that the battalion should go, not as a unit, but broken into companies. Vipul was sent to Hambantota and later was Security Force Commander and Coordinating Officer Badulla during the JVP’s terror campaign (1989/90).
Having operated against the JVP in Polonnaruwa in the 1971 insurgency, his career was cut short when serving in Badulla. He refused to obey the criminal orders of the Deputy Minister of Defence. A servile Army Commander abruptly ended his career.
This was an outstanding officer who could have in time possibly commanded the Army. The consequences clearly shattered Brig. Botejue who became disillusioned and psychologically distressed.
Leaving the Army with his head held high, he was held in respect by all good men of the Forces. He served as a Vice President of the Gemunu Watch Ex-Servicemen’s Association, looking after the soldiers’ welfare, a timeless tradition for senior commanding officers. He was also a prominent official of the SL National Aquatics management in which sports together with his brothers, late Asitha and Mayura, they had an enviable family contribution in performance at national level too.
He served in various commercial companies thereafter.
His final journey ended in the Army Hospital where the staff worked wonders to keep him alive in his final battle.
The following tribute sent by his Military Academy Diyatalawa Intake Two and long time friend Lt. Col. (Retd) Pastor Geoffrey Kathiriarachchi from Australia, is a most fitting epitaph: ‘It is the saddest news I’ve had for a long time Our dear friend, batchmate, brother in arms, with a personality larger than life is no longer with us We grieve together with his family and friends. Their loss is our loss. We farewell our fallen hero with heavy hearts. We thank him for the good times we had together, the wonderful memories that will live in our hearts. May he rest in peace’.
Brigadier Vipul Botejue leaves behind his daughter Lilanka and son Viren, sisters Chandani and Dineli and brother Mayura. He would have entered Valhalla, the abode reserved for fallen warriors.
-Lalin Fernando
A long successful walk from Deniyaya
DR (MRS) THILAKA GUNASEKARA
Thilaka was our loku akka—the eldest in a family of six. She was born in Deniyaya, where our father served as the Head Master of Deniyaya Central College and our mother was on the tutorial staff. Later, they were transferred to the Urubokka Government School, and its “Gurunivasaya” became home to the young family.
As the two older children reached school-going age, the parents dreamed of giving them the best possible education. Their efforts bore fruit when both children gained admission to schools in Colombo through entrance examinations. Thilaka entered Visakha Vidyalaya, then the leading Buddhist girls’ school in the country.
Since the hostel was full, she initially was boarded in a nearby house. The young couple who lived there, Mr. and Mrs. Senaratne looked after her until a hostel vacancy became available and continued to extend a gracious helping hand to all of us even after. Without any private tuition, Thilaka passed her public examinations and entered the Medical College. The day she shared this news with our parents was perhaps the happiest moment of their lives. They believed that if the eldest excelled, the younger ones would follow—and they did. One after another, like ants in a line, all the siblings pursued their studies and eventually became qualified professionals in their chosen fields.
Thilaka was a very reserved person. We hardly remember much about our early childhood together because we were only reunited during school vacations. Still, we had our share of fights and arguments, and more often than not, loku akka’s side won.
During her university years, things were even more challenging because the Medical Faculty had very short holidays. Her quiet nature also led to some amusing incidents. After completing her medical degree, she returned home with a suitcase and a few cardboard boxes, which she kept under her bed. Waiting anxiously for her internship appointment letter, she grew even more withdrawn. One day, while cleaning the room, Amma had pulled out the boxes to dust them. The first few were filled with textbooks, but the last one gave her the shock of her life—it was full of human skeletal remains. Perhaps, believing that someone had placed them there for sinister reasons, she panicked and called for help. We all rushed in, and upon seeing the box, loku akka calmly explained that it was hers—study material from the Medical Faculty—intended for a junior student who had not collected it on time. Everyone burst into laughter, and the moment became one of the funniest memories in the family.
She completed her internship at the Lady Ridgeway Hospital, later worked at the General Hospital, Colombo and finally in the Colombo Municipality.
In 1973, she married Gamini, an agricultural expert, and they were blessed with a daughter, Ishani. A few years later, when Gamini was selected for a top post in a pioneering international organization, they migrated abroad. This meant that Thilaka had to give up her medical career. Although our parents were deeply saddened by this, they never voiced their disappointment.
After Gamini’s retirement, they returned home, and Ishani went to the United States for higher studies. Gamini’s passing was a tremendous loss to the family, but Thilaka accepted it with strength. She devoted herself to social work and reconnected with old friends until her health began to fail.
During her illness, Ishani and our youngest sister Subadra cared for her with unwavering dedication. The devotion shown by Indrani, her faithful companion throughout her illness, will never be forgotten.
May she attain the supreme bliss of Nirvana.
-Karunanayakes
She worked dedicatedly in public health
MARIE TIKIRI RAMBUKWELLE
This is a brief tribute to an amazing lady who sadly taken away from us on November 25, 2025.
Tikiri to all who knew her, was my closest colleague at Tropical and Environmental Disease and Health Associates (TEDHA). She worked alongside my Adminis-trative Officer Dhammi and a team of high calibre professionals from medical and non-medical backgrounds, in Colombo and in the field offices.
TEDHA was assigned to several areas to support the Anti Malaria Campaign (AMC) of the Ministry of Health in her role as the Principal Program Officer coming from USAID with an accounting background.
Tikiri’s loved ones – her dear mother Annette, beloved son Dr. Devinda in Australia and Shantha Arangala would, no doubt, be soothed by her many successes in the realm of public health.
Tikiri last spoke with me about a month ago in our periodic chats and gentle persuasions to return from my relocation in Los Angeles, California following the successful achievement of malaria elimination from Sri Lanka. Tikiri, along with the team worked closely and diligently with me alongside AMC to the very conclusion of the project.
Following the last Malaria case reported by us in 2014 and subsequently achieving certification by WHO as malaria-free, Sri Lanka achieved a proud milestone and this pride was shared by all of us at AMC and TEDHA whose data consolidation and management was principally under Tikiri’s leadership with my direction.
Tikiri was a devoted mother to Devinda and dutiful daughter to her mother Annette.
Tikiri will be sorely missed. I have not only lost a valued member of the TEDHA team, my trusted colleague, confidant and friend. Tikiri, you will be forever remembered and indeed your memory will be forever treasured.
May she rest in perfect peace! -Pandu Wijeyaratne
A b’day message sent with a bouquet of memories
W.S. HULUGALLE
On your 100th birthday, December 16
You would have been,
Hundred years today.
How proud you would be,
Had you been here today.
You were smart and handsome,
Well-groomed and refined.
Courteous and charming,
Ever so gallant.
Your wit was well known,
By one and all.
Your smile is remembered,
By all those who loved.
We would have celebrated
With all your grand kids.
Great grandkids would have
Had a ball of a time.
You would have fed us
Delicacies of all kinds.
But you are not here now,
You are up there in heaven.
Happy Birthday Appachchi,
Enjoy with Amma and Malli.
If you miss me by your side,
Please shed a tear for me.
This is a birthday message,
All the way to heaven.
With a heart full of sorrow,
And a bouquet of memories.
-Sriyani Hulugalle
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