22nd February 2019 17:11:24 Hours
The funeral of Brigadier Sarath Embowa RWP RSP USP (Retd) of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment who sacrificed his legs and limbs for the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka during the fight against LTTE terrorism in 1994 was held this afternoon (20) at Malkaduwawa General Cemetery, Kurunegala with full military honours, amid a sea of his fellow Army Officers, troops and other mourners.
He passed away after a brief sickness on Monday (18) at Ragama General Hospital. The infant Kuliyapitiya Gamlathge Hema Sarath Kumara Embowa (K.G.H.S.K) was born on 14 February 1962 as the second child to a respectable family in Kurunegala.
After completion of his education, he enlisted to Sri Lanka Army Regular Force as an officer cadet of the Intake 19 of the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) on 16 November 1984. Soon after his commissioning, he was appointed to the Sri Lanka Light Infantry Regiment as a young Officer and subsequently joined the Special Forces Regiment in 1992.
This brave and courageous Officer sustained critical injuries during an operation in the East against LTTE terrorists at Angodavillu and turned permanently disabled due to serious damage to his spinal code, confining his life to a wheelchair.
His national flag - draped coffin, carried by retired Senior Officers and relatives of the fallen War Hero was placed on the gun carriage, flanked by parade troops. Presenting arms, the solemn funeral ceremony at the cemetery honoured the departed War Hero and listened to the special Part - I Order, issued by the Commander of the Army, read out by a Senior Officer.
Major General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Staff, together with several Senior Officers and a host of retired Senior Officers including Colonel of the Regiment, SLLI paraded in the procession. After the Part - I Order was delivered, all insignias, earned by the late War Hero were handed over to the next of kin in accordance with military traditions.
