Ravi was among the first to sense the magnitude of the threat to his motherland. He then established the elite STF (Special Task Force), a specialised, highly skilled and disciplined group of welltrained officers with the necessory capacity to counteract
villages in Anuradhapura, Trincomalee, and Polonnaruwa, in remote rural areas such as Kebethigollewa , Horawapathana, Padaviya, Tantirimale, Gomarankadewala, Herathhalmillewa, Nikawewa,Seruwila and Serunawa, where endless violent attacks occurred to an innocent villages, particularly children.
Many families, particularly women and children could not access basic health care. I was involved in supporting Ravi to organise teams of volunteer medical staff to visit all vulnerable areas affected by the conflict with essential drugs, dressings and other essentials. The Ministry of Health gave its unstinted support, particularly former Secretaries of Health such as Dr. Malinga Fernando and Dr. Joe Fernando. Mass immunisation camps were held for children and special services for pregnant mothers.
These humanitarian services were undertaken through the Sathsarana Foundation founded by Ravi. He had close contact with local Buddhist priests in many key conflict affected areas, including Tantirimale, Siripura, Padaviya , Vilgamvehera, Dimbulagala, and Budhangala. The Buddhist clergy provided immeasurable support to all the villages at risk of violence. Ravi’s continuous support to the temples and priests of areas at risk of violence was of immeasurable value, as they in turn, supported the families living in such areas.
Ravi’s most valuable assets were his simplicity, total lack of arrogance, great integrity and immense courage to face adversity. He was admired by those among us who loved our motherland, Sri Lanka, as he battled with all his might against all odds to preserve the unitary state.
It is said, a hero is a person who gives his life to something bigger than one’s self. Ravi was indeed such a hero.
Ravi, born to a wealthy and prominent family, the son of a President, led a life of austerity and simplicity. The wisdom of the Buddha had a long abiding and profound influence on him, as his mind evolved with time, leading to a gradual detachment from all that was worldly, in his prime aim to achieve spiritual advancement. May his sojourn in samsara be brief ! Hiranthi Wijemanne