"I'm fine. Look after my boys."
Even though he was in great pain, his words were filled with the quality of true leadership.
At that time Major Panandu, who was the Officer Commanding (OC) of Group C of the Vijayaba Regiment, who had participated in the army operations in the Eastern Province, along with another officer and 17 other officers, were injured in a clash with the enemy and were admitted to the Trincomalee Navy Hospital for basic treatment. They are taken by helicopter to Colombo Army Hospital or Jayawardenepura Hospital only after that. Flights were rarely made due to enemy attacks.
His left leg was seriously injured below the knee by a mortar shot. The soldier who died while being brought to the hospital was shot in the stomach and the major was the worst injured except the sergeant who was taken to the operation theater immediately after being brought to the hospital. But he asked us to look into his other soldiers. Even as he was treated with a field dressing and painkillers, even as preparations were being made to take him to the theater as soon as possible, he talked to Dr. Ekanayake about the facts of the battlefield. When he was told that his leg would have to be amputated due to the severe damage to his leg, he accepted it with a smile and consciously signed his consent.
In the ward, the wounds were cleaned and dressed, saline and injections were given, and the names of the patients were registered. Even when I went to the mess at lunch time, I told my friends about his unwavering courage and the attachment of his heart to his comrades in arms.
"My boys suffered a lot. We were in the op for several days in the heavy rain without the same uniform. We had to capture a few more. A Gajaba coy also managed to support us. But... they told us that we had ambushed them and attacked us at night. Kala, but we held on until the Gajaba arrived," he told the facts of the battlefield while bearing the pain of the latest wound from time to time.
"My boys haven't had a bite of rice in days. Look after them."
Even when he was being prepared to be taken to the surgery, he remembered the words he had said and went to Ismolle for the food. As per the order given by the hospital, we got some rest only after the galley food assistant sailors distributed the meal which was quickly provided.
When we came back, there was a lot of commotion at the hospital. The patients in the ward were also very impatient. The emergency bed at the front of the ward was also empty.
"The CO amputated sir and brought him to the ward. There was no effect in the operation. At one point, the pressure increased and the heart rate went out. Sir was taken to the theater again. He must have had a heart attack. He was treated quickly. An issue will be lost."
Like the wounded soldiers, we were impatiently waiting for sir to come back to the ward.
"Po Herat got up on the theater bed and gave a heart massage. We tried a lot."
It was very difficult to calm down the soldiers in the hospital who were devastated by the news that disappointed us.
"Let us see our Sir"
Even though it was the only request of all of them, we were not able to fulfill it.
"I will come home tomorrow. Don't be afraid."
I remembered how he called home shortly before going to the theater and said. With tears always welling up in my eyes for my fellow soldiers and sailors, I also helped my fellow medical assistants to wrap his body in wax and white cloth and prepare it to go home as per his last promise.
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