Capt. Lalin Fernando’s platoon of the First Battalion, Gemunu Watch was rushed to Wellawaya when the JVP insurrection broke out 50 years ago. Here he recounts his experience

I arrived at the Wellawaya Police Station in the afternoon of April 5, 1971 with two platoons of my Company ( Bravo) of the First Battalion, Gemunu Watch that had finished a tour of Mannar on illicit immigration duties six weeks before. One platoon was ordered to debus and provide immediate all-round protection to the Police Station. The other platoon under command of Lt. Gibbrey Muthalib (who I had trained as an officer cadet) was sent off to Monaragala.

He had been there two weeks before on ammo and weapon searches with the Police. Unfortunately he suffered a gunshot injury to his head shortly thereafter but survived and made Major General in time. The 3rd platoon under Lt. Sunil Peiris, also trained by me (who later founded and commanded the Army Commandos) was later deployed to Balangoda.

An Internal Security platoon of 4 Regiment Artillery under later Captain F R A B (Bashoor) Musafer ( now an Australian) was already there having come that morning. Bashoor and I had played rugby together for the Army and against each other in the regimental competitions. They (Gunners) were all in the four ton truck they had come in, ready to move back to Wirawila.

I reported to Major ( later Major General) Gratian Silva ( Grade 2 Operations Officer) who had just arrived by helicopter from Army HQ with DIG Rudra Rajasingham (later IGP). Major Silva briefed me and said that two policemen had been killed in the attack that took place at dawn. The Police and their OiC Donald Jayasekera looked demoralized and shell shocked. They said that about 500 JVP insurgents had attacked that morning. This number was broadcast on radio worldwide but the correct figure was 25.

I did a walk about of the Police Station to observe how the attack had been made. The insurgents had come along a stream that ran between the Police Sation and the post office on the east side and lined up in the rear where the policemen's sleeping quarters were. The leader,