By Nilakshan Perera
commemorate 45 years since 26 young men embarked on a journey that would become an enduring chapter in the history of the Sri Lanka Army.
For me, the story has a particularly personal beginning. Sometime in early October, 1981, a good friend of mine, with whom I had been in the same cadet platoon, from 1978, and who was the Sergeant of the 1980 platoon, which became Island champions, needed a college blazer for his Army final interview. I borrowed one from a friend in Panadura and carried it for him. He then boarded the same bus from Katubedda, and I accompanied him for his interview. A few days later, he shared the wonderful news that he had been selected for Officer Cadet Intake 16 and would report to Diyatalawa on 16 October, 1981.
What followed became history. He emerged as the best officer Cadet, winning the coveted Sword of Honour and becoming a Cadet Under Officer. Decades later, he became the 22nd Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, establishing several remarkable milestones. He was the first Special Forces officer to command the Army, a first Para trooper, the first graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College to become Army Commander, and the first Cadet Under Officer and Sword of Honour recipient to rise to that position.
His journey was not without adversity. Following the 2010 Presidential Election, he was asked to leave the Army. Amid the uncertainty and threats surrounding him, I was one of the first to visit him at his residence. In 2015, he was reinstated and subsequently served as Military Secretary, Commander Security Forces – Jaffna, and Chief of Staff before assuming command of the Army on 4 July, 2017. The rest is history.
On 16 October, 1981, at Army Headquarters, a bus waited to take 26 young school leavers to Diyatalawa. Among them were Mahesh Senanayake (Ananda), Janaka Walgama (Nalanda), Udaya Perera (De Mazenod), Srimal Kasthuriarachchi (St Anthony’s, Katugastota), Edward Thanjaratnam (St John’s College, Jaffna), Prasanna Wickremesooriya (Nalanda), Jagath Alwis and Pradeep Jayasuriya (Ananda), Sooriya Senanayake (D. S. Senanayake), TRA Aliba (Lumbini), P Raveendran (Hindu College, Jaffna), JN Pushparaj (St Michael’s, Batticaloa), MRC de Silva (St Benedict’s, Kotahena), Uraj de Silva (Prince of Wales), Nirmal Coswatte (Dharmaraja), TM Mahindaratne (Vidyartha), Amal Karuasekera ( Nalanda) and Bimal Dias ( Royal)
The intake also included five servicemen who had already excelled in the Other Ranks, including two Olympic athletes, an Army Decathlon champion, a Sri Lanka volleyball star and a graduate. They were A Premachandra, KTN Perera, SM Piyatilake, KAS Siriwardena, HK Chandrasena.
Late that night, on their arrival at the Military Academy, they were traditionally welcome by Seniors of Intake 15, (intermediates) near “PANDAMA”. Then came the reality of cadet life, running on the double, relentless discipline and demanding training. Intake 14, as the super seniors, and cadets of Short Service Course 3 were also there to ensure that the newcomers quickly understood the traditions and rigour of SLMA.
They were trained under dedicated instructors, including Course Commanders of initial months, Capt. Lucky Rajasinghe (retired as Col) and Capt. Wasantha Pamunuwa (retired as Col) Course Sergeant TH Thajudeen, PTI Bombardier Senerath Bandara, and Chief Instructor Late Maj. Janaka Perera (retired as Maj Gen), Major Devinda Kalupahana (retired as Maj Gen) and Maj. Lalith Gunaratne (retired as Col)
Their training tested every aspect of an aspiring officer. Exercise “God King” took them to sacred and historic sites such as Kataragama, Kirivehera and Sithulpawwa, connecting military training with the heritage of their motherland. Exercise “Frozen Trout” tested them for 10 days in the cold, mist and rain of Ambewela and Pattipola, covering conventional warfare and battle procedures. Remarkably, Intake 16 underwent this exercise three times. Exercise “Wana Bambara” took them deep into the jungles around Wellawaya for Counter-Revolutionary Warfare training, while exercise “Scorpion” tested their ability to conduct Internal Security and counter-insurgency operations around Walimada. Intake 16 also became the first Officer Cadet Intake at the Sri Lanka Military Academy to undergo the Basic Commando Course before the passing out.
After 22 months of rigorous training, the moment of truth arrived on 23 June, 1983. Of the original 26 cadets, 19 were commissioned as Second Lieutenants. It was the largest passing-out parade of its time, with around 1,000 Army recruits passed out alongside them. The parade was commanded by Major Nanda Mallawarachchi (retired as Maj Gen), while the Officer Cadet contingent was commanded by Cadet Under Officer Mahesh Senanayake, who had won the Sword of Honour for the highest marks in the Order of Merit. He also received the Current Affairs prize, while Cadet Sergeant Janaka Walgama received the Tactics prize. The Chief Guest was the Commander of the Army, Major General TI Weeratunge.
The 19 newly commissioned officers were then posted to their respective regiments and began their national duty with integrity, passion and courage. During the brutal conflict in the North and East, two of their brothers made the supreme sacrifice. Lieutenant Colonel Sooriya Senanayake, of SLLI, was killed in action at Kadduvan, Jaffna, on 30 May, 1992. Lieutenant Colonel TRA Aliba, of VIR, was killed in action, at Mullaitivu, on 18 July, 1996, while commanding the 6th Battalion, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, during a major LTTE assault. The intake paid tribute to the memory of Captain KAS Siriwardena, Captain MRC de Silva and Major Uraj de Silva, who passed away due to health complications and unfortune accident, respectively. Their memory remains an inseparable part of the Intake 16 story, and they are remembered with the deepest gratitude.
Only five members went on to complete nearly 35 years of military service and reach retirement at senior rank, General Mahesh Senanayake, Major General Janaka Walgama, Major General Udaya Perera, Major General Jagath Alwis and Major General Nirmal Coswatte. Others took premature retirement and pursued different paths, but the bond forged at Diyatalawa never diminished.
Forty-five years later, the memories remain vivid, the parade square, the mist of Diyatalawa, the hardships, the laughter, the friendships, the sacrifices and the pride of wearing the uniform. They entered Diyatalawa as young men and emerged as officers. Some became generals, one became Commander of the Army, some made the ultimate sacrifice, and others continued to serve the Nation in different ways. But above rank, appointment and circumstance, they remain what they became at Diyatalawa, brothers of Intake 16.
As they mark 45 years since that historic 16 October, 1981, we salute every member of Intake 16, remember with gratitude those who are no longer with us, and honour a generation that served the Nation with pride, courage and dedication.
Forty-five years of service.
Forty-five years of sacrifice.
Forty-five years of brotherhood.
Happy 45th Anniversary,
Intake 16!
16 October, 1981 – 16 October, 2026
Proudly served. Honourably remembered.