By Nilakshan Perera
Former Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike wanted to create a cordial relationship between school children and the Police Department, after carefully studying a similar programme in Singapore and Malaysia. Initiated with the support of the then Ministry of Education and the Sri Lanka Police, the Sri Lanka Police Cadet Corps began as an attachment to the Sri Lanka Reserve Police. On 3 July 1972, six schools were selected for its pilot programme; namely Kingswood College, Kandy; Mahinda College, Galle; Hindu College, Jaffna; Ananda College, Colombo; Zahira College, Gampola; and Sangabodhi Vidyalaya, Nittambuwa. By 1978, this number rose to 32 boys’ schools and 19 girls’ schools.
Each of these individual platoons consisted of 33 cadets. The masters, who were in charge of these platoons, were considered part of the Reserve Police. They were assigned with the rank of an Inspector (IP) or a Sub Inspector (SI).
When Ananda College was selected for Police cadetting on 3 July 1972, two of the school’s teachers, Lionel Gunasekera and Ariyapala, were appointed as the Officers-in-Charge of the college cadet platoon. Later on, W. Weerasekera took over from Ariyapala. Both Gunasekera and Weerasekera extended their invaluable and unwavering services for the cadet platoon’s success story. Both these gentlemen were there to supervise and train cadets when cadets had their practices. One could not forget Weerasekera’s 9 Sri 7321 orange-coloured Bajaj scooter parked next to the college main canteen. Another teacher who trained cadets for drama competitions voluntarily was the late Lionel Ranwala. He was a talented master who helped cadets to secure wins in the drama competition year after year at the annual camps.
SSP Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda, SSP P.V.W. de Silva and a few other senior officers from Police HQ often attended as judges for different categories in the annual camp competitions, such as first aid, general knowledge, squad drill, and physical training. Both these senior officers would discharge their duties to the rule and spirit.
All first aid requirements were provided by the college St. John’s Ambulance Brigade for all college special events such as big matches and sports meets. This unit was led by Corporal Devapriya Perera (1979) and most of the first-aiders were Police cadets. They volunteered their services to the General Hospital Accident Ward and the Sri Pada pilgrims. It was pleasing to see cadets controlling traffic duties on the Maradana-Borella main road in front of the college every morning from 7 a.m. to 7.25 a.m. and helping with traffic duties and car park duties during the college sports meet and other functions.
Police cadets C.R. Senanayake, Ravi Mahendra, and the late Dharmapriya Silva established a swimming club that held its training at Otters Swimming Club. The School Bus Travellers Society, organised by the Police cadets, issued bus seasons for students with the help of CTB officials.
Back then when a teacher had not reported to a class, senior Police cadets would step in and take turns to teach these classes. Deepal Sooriyaarachchi and Sarath Katangoda were the most popular student masters in that era with their popular stories and innovative methods of teaching. This increased the popularity of Police cadets among the student body. The way cadets conducted themselves had a very high impact on fellow Anandians and the number of students attending practices rose rapidly.
On several occasions, Anula Vidyalaya Police cadets called our cadets to assist with their training in preparation for their annual camps. Having borrowed season bus tickets from students coming to college via Nugegoda, our senior cadets looked forward to visiting Anula to train them during school hours. This friendly culture blossomed during camps as well as outside the two schools.
In 1972, the college platoon led by Sgt. Ranjith Wijesundara became the island’s best platoon. On 23 July 1983, the Sri Lanka Army’s routine patrol was assigned from Madagal to Gurunagar with the call sign of Four Four Bravo, commanded by Second Lt. A.P.N.C. de Vaas Gunawardane with 15 soldiers attached to Charlie Company of Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI). The patrol was ambushed at Tirunelveli in Jaffna, where Second Lt. Vaas Gunawardane and 12 soldiers made the supreme sacrifice. SLLI Adjutant and Intelligence Officer Capt. Ranjith Wijesundara was assigned the task of identifying fallen heroes. Lt. Vaas Gunawardane was a Cadet of the 1977 platoon. Ranjith Wijesundara is now retired with the rank of Colonel.
In 1975 the college platoon led by Sgt. M.A.K.E. Manthriratne also became the island’s best platoon and Manthriratne was selected by the National Youth Council to represent the Sri Lanka Police Cadet Corps and travel to Canada under the Youth Exchange Programme between Sri Lanka and Canada. Manthriratne later joined the Sri Lanka Navy and retired with the rank of Commander. Presently, as the President of Past Cadets, together with ever-reliable Sgt. V.S. Makolage (1982), he carries out various welfare projects under the banner of the Past Police Cadet Wing of Ananda.
Ananda held an unbroken record of winning nine out of 10 trophies in 1978, under the great leadership of Sergeant Kithsiri Aponso, who undoubtedly took Ananda Police Cadets to greater heights, as a leader with great charisma, integrity and leadership qualities. He became the Deputy Head Prefect and joined the STF.
College Athletic Captain of 1977 Ranasinghe Dharmadasa, J.P.P.P. Silva (1978), Damitha Vitharana (1980), Jagath Palihakkara (1981), and DIG S.M.Y. Senviratne also brought pride and joy to their alma mater during their time in their respective platoons and in their subsequent endeavours.
Two sergeants who led the island’s best platoons, Priyantha Ratnayake in 1983 and Pasindu Herath in 2016, became Head Prefects and Pasindu was awarded the Fritz Kunz Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding student of 2017.
In a great day for Ananda, as well as for Police Cadets, the 1980 Cadet Sgt. who led the island’s best platoon became Commander of the Army on 4 July 2017. It was a great honour for cadets, and the past cadets organised a felicitation for Gen. Mahesh Senanayake to recognise his prestigious appointment.
With profound gratitude, we remember past cadets Rear Admiral Noel Kalubowila (a highly-rated naval officer decorated with the highest gallantry medals, having led the ‘Suicide Express’ in 1990, evacuating troops from Jaffna Fort), Maj. Gen. Lakshan Fernando, Maj. Gen. Ajith Pallewela, Brig. Mahinda Jayasinghe, Maj. Aruna Vithanage, Maj. Sampath Karunathilake, Maj. S.P. Rodrigo, Lt. Bandula Withanachchi, Director Prisons T.I. Uduwara, SSP Deepthi Hettiarchchi of STF, and SSP Amal Edirimanne were cadets who joined the forces, Police and the Prison Department respectively.
University Grants Commission Chairman Senior Prof. Sampath Amaratunge, one of the brilliant academics in the country and a past cadet, always said: “I am where I am because of my alma mater, and shall forever be grateful to my journey.” Other noteworthy past cadets are Harbour Master Capt. Nirmal Silva, Prof. Rohan Gunaratne (a political analyst specialising in international terrorism), and present President of Ananda OBA Bimal Wijesinghe, who excelled in athletics during annual camps.
When this writer contacted one of our Masters-in-Charge W. Weerasekera, he recalled those golden days: “As a pilot school where Police cadet platoons were formed, Ananda College played its role in achieving the aims of cadetting as envisaged in the curriculum. It gives me great satisfaction to note the leadership and achievements of the cadets and their success in later life with the highest contribution to the society at large.”
