Lieutenant Colonel J.A.L Jayasinghe WWV, SF, was an officer of the Special Forces Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. He was twice honoured with the award of Weera Wickrama Vibushana (WWV) medal in recognition of his gallantry, in addition to Desha Puthra, Northeast, Poorna Bhumi, Army Anniversary and Independence Anniversary medals he received on various occasions. He was killed in November 2008, while leading an eight-man Special Forces team on a Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) operation 30 km into territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Place of birth Ukwatta, Awissawella, Sri Lanka Place of death Oddusudan, Sri Lanka Allegiance Sri Lanka Army Years of service 1997-2008 Rank Lieutenant Colonel Unit 3rd Special Forces Regiment Commands held Company Commander SF - LRRP Battles/wars Sri Lankan Tiger Terrorism War
Military Career
. He had functioned as a http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platoon_commanderplatoon commander, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_commandercompany commander, and also ahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commanding_officer commandin officer. He was a recipient ofhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desha_Putra_Sammanaya desha puthra sammanya, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_and_East_Operations_Medalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purna_Bhumi_Padakkamapurna bhumi padakkama, Army Anniversary and Independence Anniversary medals. He was also twice awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya, the third highest http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Awards_and_decorations_of_the_military_of_Sri_Lankamilitery decoration of Sri Lanka.
Jayasinghe was a specialist in LRRP operations, and had helped achieve many victories for the Sri Lanka Army during thehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Lankan_Civil_War LTTE war His accomplishments allegedly include participating in the assassination of Vaithilingam Sornalingam, alias Colonel Shankar, a senior commander of the LTTE, its intelligence leader Charles (killed in January 2008), and Sea Tiger Deputy Leader Kangai Amaran in June 2001.
Death(a hero's death)
Jayasinghe was killed in November 2008, during a reconnaissance mission in LTTE held territory. Leading an eight man Special Forces team, he had infiltrated thirty kilometers into the Oddusudan area in enemy territory and conducted an assault. After completing the first assault, the team had been moving on to a second target when they were discovered by LTTE cadres. Jayasinghe was wounded in the ensuing firefight, and his team retreated to a safer location with their wounded team leader. They were discovered again by the LTTE, and in the second firefight Jayasinghe was killed, while another member of the eight man team was wounded.
A rescue operation was later carried out to rescue the Special Forces team, with the assistance of MI-24 helicopter gunships of the Sri Lanka Air Force. All seven members of the team were extracted, along with Jayasinghe's body. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His funeral was held in Ukwatta, his home town, on 1 December 2008 with full military honours.
The MOST feared long ranger of all times....
An yaer passed by.....since sir was killed in combat in odddusudan ..... His memory will go on.....the fallen colonel nt only did an outstanding duty to protect us but has also brought patriots to gether today....his name will be the symbol of all sri lankan patriots..
Major Jayasinghe was attached to 3 Special Forces. An experienced veteran, Jayasinghe and another 7 members of the 3SF LRRP team infiltrated an area 30km north of Oddusudan on the 14th of November. Several days later, they engaged an enemy target and was moving to a safe location when an LTTE team confronted them. The Tiger team was completely annihilated but not without any damages to the Long Rangers.
Major Jayasinghe was seriously wounded in the chest and leg. A team member trained as a medic administered a field dressing on the Major. The wound was too serious for a field dressing to cover. A main artery was cut open by a gunshot wound. Even with this wound, Major Jayasinghe and the team decided to engage another target. Unfortunately for them, the muddy soil was exposing their trail.
By the 24th, another LTTE team had tracked them down. In the second confrontation, the now seriously wounded Major was mortally wounded and succumbed to his injuries. Another soldier was also injured just above his foot. By this time a massive rescue operation was underway.
Fresh Special Forces reinforcements were landed to secure a perimeter. MI-24 and even Kfir jets were used to attack and divert the attention of the pursuers. The rescue mission managed to recover the Major's mortal remains and the other 7 men on the 26th and bring them to safety.
Major Lalith Jayasinghe was an unsung hero outside of the Army, but a very well respected officer in the Army due to his many achievements and temperament as a humble and committed soldier. Among his many achievements was the assassination of an LTTE 'Colonel' considered to be the LTTE's number 2 on 26th September 2001. The said 'Colonel' was the brainchild of both the Sea Tigers and the Air Tigers and was killed at Oddusudan, an area well known to Major Jayasinghe where he himself embraced death in heroic fashion.
