It was Easter Sunday 2019. SLCG Ship Suraksha, a 100-meter-long Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV), was getting ready for a 14-day patrol. Her tanks were topped up with fuel, and all victuals (required for 10 officers and a 100-man crew for 14 days) were loaded. Both cold and cool rooms were full of fresh fish, meat, and vegetables. The ship was ready to sail at 12 noon on 21st April 2019.
A young lieutenant on board, who had taken over his new appointment as Assistant Logistics Officer a few days earlier, was working hard. New appointment, new ship, new friends, and new crew for him. He wanted to impress them with his work. A call came from home around 7 a.m. from his mother, who said they were on their way to the village church in Kochchikade, Negombo. He was the second son of a devoted Catholic family.
He thought of one thing: I am going to miss Easter Sunday Mass. He got an idea and quickly went up to the Commanding Officer’s cabin and tapped gently. “Yes,” the Commanding Officer replied. “The door is open.” His Commanding Officer was a decorated former Naval Special Forces Captain. He was with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard on a two-year tenure as Commanding Officer of the OPV. The young lieutenant requested permission to go to church. Even though the Commanding Officer was a decorated naval officer with a career of bravery and valor, he was a kind-hearted man.
After all, his young subordinate was requesting to go to church on Easter Sunday. He knew his junior was a Catholic. He himself was also a devoted Catholic and had attended the midnight Easter Mass. He gave permission to the young officer to go to church and also said a few words which he would regret later:
“Sugath, the closest church to us is St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade. It is customary, from time immemorial, for naval officers, whether they are Catholics or not, to light a candle in this church when they receive a new sea-going appointment. We turn our ships towards the church before leaving Colombo Harbour to seek the blessings of St. Anthony. As you are well aware, St. Anthony is the saint who looks after seafarers like us. So please go, son. Take the ship’s vehicle. Come back by 11. We are sailing at 12.”
The young lieutenant quickly changed into his best civilian clothes and went to church. He was thinking of lighting a candle, saying a prayer, and returning to the ship in the same vehicle. The time was 08:30. He heard an announcement that the Tamil Mass would start at 08:40. The church was full of devotees—families with children dressed in their best Sunday clothes. They were happy, chatting with each other, and eagerly waiting for Mass to start. The young lieutenant could understand and speak Tamil very well, so he changed his mind. The CO had said to return by 11. There was enough time to attend the Tamil Mass. He told the Navy driver to go back. He said to the young driver, “I will attend Mass and come back to the ship. I can get a three-wheeler. It’s not that far from here to the Naval Base.”
The Tamil Mass started at 08:40 sharp. The suicide bomber walked into the church at 08:45 and detonated himself.
With the deafening sound, the Naval Base was activated. News started coming in of a blast at St. Anthony’s Church, Kochchikade. The CO of SLCG ship Suraksha knew his subordinate was in the church. He rang his mobile while rushing to the scene. The mobile was ringing, but there was no answer. The ship’s crew looked for their officer while transferring casualties. The CO rang the mobile of his subordinate officer again. This time someone answered—a female voice. She introduced herself as a nurse in the Accident Ward of the General Hospital, Colombo. She said in a faint voice, “Sir, he is dead.”
The CO sat on the roadside curb with tears in his eyes. He was a battle-hardened Naval Special Forces man. He had seen enough death and destruction in his life, but this loss hit him hard. He said, “My son! Why did I allow him to go to church?”
This is a true story.
Lieutenant (S) Sugath Nadeeshan Silva was born in Kochchikade, Negombo, on 23rd November 1991, as the second son of the family. He had one elder and one younger brother. He had his early education at Thoppuwa St. Philip Neri Sinhala Mixed School, Kochchikade, and Maria Stella College, Negombo, and proved to be a brilliant student who excelled in studies and sports.
He joined the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University as an officer cadet on 17th September 2012.
Sugath excelled in cricket. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Logistics Management in 2016 from KDU and successfully completed the Sub Lieutenant Logistics Course at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee. He joined SLCG ship Suraksha as his first sea appointment when this untimely demise occurred due to the terrorist attack. He was promoted posthumously to Lieutenant Commander and was buried with full military honours. May he rest in peace.
“At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember him. Please remember him in your prayers.”
