Ananda Hamangoda

Major General Ananda Sri Sisira Kumara Hamangoda, RWP, RSP, USP (1 November 1950 – 4 July 1996) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer, who was the former brigade commander of the 51-2 Brigade based in Jaffna, when he was killed by a LTTE female suicide bomber.

Ananda Hamangoda
Born(1950-11-01)1 November 1950
Died4 July 1996(1996-07-04) (aged 45)
Stanley Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
AllegianceSri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Army
Years of service1972-1996 †
Rank Major General
Service numberO/50666
UnitSri Lanka Artillery
Commands held51-2 Brigade,
6th Field Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery
Battles/warsInsurrection 1987-89
Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards Rana Wickrama Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama
Uttama Seva Padakkama
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
Purna Bhumi Padakkama
Riviresa Campaign Services Medal

Early life and education

Born on 1 November 1950, Kalutara north. His father was a police officer and he had three brothers and a sister. He was educated at Maliyadeva College, Kurunagala, where he excelled in academic and sports. He was judged as the best orator and best overall student in the year 1971, served as deputy head prefect, house captain and was a sergeant of the college cadet platoon.[1] In 1969 he was the leader of school western music band. His talents in sports showed great excellence. He received school colours on many occasions for his success in sports. In 1971 he played for the school badminton team.[2] He won the coveted prize for the "Best Cadet" and the Gold Medal for the "Best All Round Student" in the year 1971.[1]

Military career

Hamangoda joined the Sri Lanka Army and received his basic officer cadet training at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa. He was thereafter commissioned as a second lieutenant on 1 January 1973 in the 4th Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery. He was promoted Lieutenant on 5 January 1976, Captain on 5 January 1979, Major on 1 March 1983, Lieutenant Colonel in 15 June 1990, Colonel in 20 April 1994 and Brigadier on 15 November 1995. He attended the Senior tactics course at the Army Training Center; Young officers course at Indian Army School of Artillery, Devlali; Regimental signal officer course at the Pakistan Military Academy; Senior officers artillery course at the Pakistan Army School of artillery, Nawashera and the Senior commanders course at the Indian Army School of Artillery, Devlali. He attended the defence services course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington gaining the Psc and a MSc degree in Defence and Strategic Studies. He served as Adjutant of the 4th Regiment from 1981 to 1983, before taking up appointment as a staff officer in the 5th (Volunteer) Regiment from 1983 to 1985. He formed a new Field Battery in the newly formed 6th Regiment becoming its first battery commander, before serving as the first Second in Command in the newly raised 7th Light Artillery Regiment in November 1988. He served as the commanding officer of the 6th Field Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery from October 1992 to March 1994. Brigadier Ananda Hamangoda was appointed as commanding officer of 51-2 Brigade in Jaffna in 1995 and was popular among the people of Jaffna.[3]

His sporting prowess in cricket, volleyball as well as in boxing contributed to the promotion of sports activities in the Army while helping the Army produce a number of sportsmen of national and international standards.[4]

Death

Brigadier Hamangoda was killed on 4 July 1996, when a LTTE female suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to her waist as the motorcade he was in stopped at Stanley Road in Jaffna town. The intended target, Housing and Construction Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, escaped with minor injuries. However 20 people, including Brigadier Hamangoda and Ranjith Godamuna, Chairman, Lanka Cement were killed and approximately 60 others sustained injuries.[5][6]

He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major General.[7][8]

Family

Hamangoda was married to Indrani Hamangoda, a teacher at Royal College, Colombo and they had two daughters Buwani, Maheshni and one son Dulshan.[9]

Awards

He has been honoured with the following gallantry and service medals during his career & following his death.

Gallantry decorations & medals

Distinguished service decorations & medals

Campaign medals

Presidential commendation & medals

  • President’s Accession Medal[4]

References
  1. Only the Good Die Young Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine www.dailymirror.lk
  2. Maj. Gen. Hamangoda remembered Archived 14 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine www.sundayobserver.lk
  3. Ratnayake, D. "A noble death for a noble cause in our times". Island. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. A noble death for a noble cause in our times by Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. www.island.lk
  5. Situation Report 7 July 1996 - How 2 brave soldiers saved minister By Iqbal Athas www.sundaytimes.lk
  6. Murder of Brigadier Ananda Hamangoda - 4 July 1996: LTTE suicide attack on 4 July 1996 in Jaffna www.lankalibrary.com
  7. Appreciations - Noble in death as in life: Major General Ananda Hamangoda by Brigadier Daya Ratnayake, Army Headquarters www.sundaytimes.lk
  8. Suicide Killings - An Overview Archived 8 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine www.satp.org
  9. Royal College - Colombo 07, Sri Lanka Archived 4 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine

Further sources
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