Ananda Hamangoda

Ananda Hamangoda
Native name Ananda
Born 1 November 1950
Died 4 July 1996(1996-07-04) (aged 45) †
Stanley Road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka
Allegiance  Sri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lankan Army
Rank Major General
Unit Sri Lanka Artillery
Commands held Commanding Officer 51-2 Brigade
Battles/wars 1971 Insurrection
Insurrection 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

Major General Ananda Hamangoda † RWP, RSP, USP, Msc, Psc, SLA (1 November 1950 – 4 July 1996) was the former Commanding Officer of 51-2 Brigade based in Jaffna.

Early life and family

Born on 1 November 1950, Kalutara north, Sri Lanka, Ananda Hamangoda is a proud product of Maliyadeva College, Kurunagala, Sri Lanka. A son of a prominent police officer, Ananda Hamangoda had 3 brothers and a sister. Ananda Hamangoda's wife Indrani Hamangoda [1] is a teacher by profession, and he was a father of 2 daughters (Buwani Hamangoda & Maheshni Hamangoda) and one son (Dulshan Hamangoda).

Alma matter

Ananda Hamangoda's attraction to the Army was vivid since his early days in school at Maliyadeva College, Kurunagala. At school Ananda was an all rounder who excelled both in academic pursuits and in curricular activities. He was a science student and was always seen moving about with a pleasant smile on his face in the classroom as well as on the playground. A keen sportsman and a brilliant student at college Ananda Hamangoda was judged as the best orator and best overall student in the year 1971. He served his alma mater as the deputy head prefect in the same year and was the house captain of the school. During his multi-faceted school career his commitment towards the school cadet team was praiseworthy. He began his initial army training as a junior cadet. Ananda was a lance corporal and later a corporal of the Junior Cadet Platoon of Maliyadeva College, which won the "All Island Junior Cadet Championship" continuously for several years from 1965. Later he graduated to the senior cadet platoon ending up as sergeant.[2] 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.[3] He won the coveted prize for the "Best Cadet" and the Gold Medal for the "Best All Round Student" in the year 1971.[2]

Military career in the Sri Lankan Army

Ananda Hamangoda RWP, RSP, USP, Msc, Psc joined the Sri Lanka Army as a second lieutenant on January 1, 1973. He received the following promotions while serving in the Sri Lanka Army Artillery regiment.

He received the below mentioned training and military education during his career.

Brigadier Ananda Hamangoda was appointed as commanding officer of 51-2 Brigade in Jaffna in 1995. During this time he gained the respect of the people of Jaffna and was much loved by them.

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

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

Death

Brigadier Ananda Hamangoda RWP, RSP, USP, Msc, Psc was targeted and killed by a LTTE female suicide bomber [5] on 4 July 1996, at Stanley road, Jaffna, Sri Lanka, while he was the commanding officer of the 512 brigade of the Sri Lanka army.

Winning the hearts and minds of the Jaffna civilians was Major General Ananda Hamangoda's only goal. Maj. Gen. Hamangoda had firmly believed that no one would harm him, as he had been able to build a strong bond between the people and the troops. He paid the price on Thursday 4 July 1996 in Jaffna for the goodwill he had brought about in the peninsula.[6]

He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major General.[7][8] Major General Ananda Hamangoda RWP, RSP, USP, Msc, Psc remains the most senior officer belonging to the artillery regiment of the Sri Lanka army to be killed in action till the end of the Sri Lankan civil war (2009).

LTTE Suicide bomb attack

At least 20 people, including Jaffna military commander Brig. Ananda Hamangoda, Ranjith Godamuna (Chairman, Lanka Cement) were killed and approximately 60 others sustained injuries when a female suicide bomber detonated explosives strapped to her waist as a minister’s motorcade stopped on the Stanley Road in Jaffna town. The Tigers’ target, Housing and Construction Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, escaped with minor injuries.

References

  1. ↑ Royal College - Colombo 07, Sri Lanka
  2. 1 2 Only the Good Die Young www.dailymirror.lk
  3. ↑ Maj. Gen. Hamangoda remembered www.sundayobserver.lk
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 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 www.satp.org

External links

Further sources


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