Fresh army recruit becomes POW

by admin
Dec 23, 2008

A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldier who has been captured by the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) in Kilaali on 09 December has revealed that he was attached to Sinha Regiment and sent to the forefront of the offensive immediately after completing his military training at Diyathalawa Army Training Centre on 25 November.

 

The Prisoner of War (PoW), who was allowed to talk to media on Saturday while he was admitted at Ki'linochchi hospital, said he had studied up to 7th standard and joined the SLA considering the economic benefits, but did not expect that he would be sent to the battle front immediately.

 

He was sent to training on 25 August 2008 with 659 new recruits. Following his three months training, which completed on 25 November 2008, Mr. Ranasinghe was dispatched to the Sinha Regiment and sent to the forefront at Ki'laali in North.

During the night of 09 December, he was sent to the offensive and asked to move forward at 2:30 a.m. After heavy LTTE resistance, he was asked to withdraw, but was wounded and lied their for nearly 12 hours from 6:30 a.m., without no one from SLA coming to rescue him.

The Tigers who found him at 7:00 p.m., gave water and some first aid, before sending him for further medical treatment.

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