The 34th death anniversary of Hasalaka War Hero Corporal Gamini Kularathne falls tomorrow.
When we hear the name of the village Hasalaka in Kandy we are often reminded of this heroic character. There is also a popular Sinhala song composed for him “Sithunada Sithuwada Weeraya Hasalaka’’ sung by Dhanapala Udawatta.
Hasalaka Kularathne became a legend of eternal heroism ever since his heroic attempt at the Elephant Pass battle ground on that fearful night of July 14, 1991 when a military base of the Army, Elephant Pass came under a ferocious attack by L.T.T.E. terrorists.
Born on August 22, 1966, Gamini was the second in a family of four brothers and a sister. His father was U. B. Babanis, while his mother was K. B. Juliet.
Gamini received his primary education at Keenapelessa Junior School and his higher education at Hasalaka Madya Maha Vidyalaya.
After his father passed away in 1980 when he was 16 years, the family had to face many hardships.
Gamini Kularathna joined the Army in August 1987 as a rifleman and was serving at the Elephant Pass Army Camp with 800 other soldiers.
Serving in the operational duties in the Sinha Regiment, on this fateful day, Gamini Kularathna armed with two grenades jumped into the bulldozer of the terrorists laden with explosives and destroyed it and rescued the Elephant Pass Army Camp from the LTTE, sacrificing his life in the process.
In recognition of his act of gallantry, Lance Corporal Gamini Kularathna was promoted to the rank of Corporal and was honoured with “Parama Weera Vibhooshana”, the highest award in Sri Lanka for the first time in the history of the Army.
Two monuments of the War Hero have been built, one is at asalaka and the other is at Elephant Pass. A special memorial called “Corporal Gamini Kularathna Souvenir Gallery” has been set up at the Elephant Pass Army camp site on the A.9 road to Jaffna, as a mark of respect to the War Hero.
Photographs depicting events connected with Gamini’s life such as letters written by him to his mother and the remnants of the bulldozer are displayed here.
