Colonel Udayadeera
Encyclopedia
Colonel
Perumbadage Shantha Saliya Ramya Udayadeera (7 September 1961 - 6 April 2008) was Sri Lanka
n military officer and athlete. He was the commander of the 11th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
(SLSR), and then the Ambepussa SLSR Regimental Headquarters.
, Kurunegala district. He received his primary and secondary education at St Anne's College, Kurunegala and St Joseph's College, Colombo 10 respectively.
and was later trained at the reputed English Teachers' College, Peradeniya. During his tenure at Trinity College, P.S.S.R. Udayadeera joined the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps (SLCC) as a commissioned officer and led young Trinitians infusing highest tenets of discipline, enabling them to become future leaders in society. His patriotic sentiments coupled with cadetship experience in school inspired him to join the Sri Lanka Army, fighting to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The young P.S.S.R. Udayadeera joined the Infantry Regiment of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
(SLSR) on 1st Nov 1987 whilst simultaneously serving the Department of Education.
As an infantry
officer he served in the operational areas for a long time holding many Grade I Staff appointments. He commanded the 11th Battalion SLSR before being posted to the Ambepussa SLSR Regimental Headquarters.
(NOC) Management Course - 1997, Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) Technical Official Exam - 1981 and a few other courses. He also attended a number of National and International meets as a Starter. SAF Games-1991 Sri Lanka, SAF Games - 1995 - India, Grand Prix - 2002 - Sri Lanka, Grand Prix - 2003 - Sri Lanka, Asian Championships - 2002 - Sri Lanka, SAF Games - 2006 - Sri Lanka and all National Level meets were among many he contributed after 1980 until his sudden demise.
Lt Colonel P.S.S.R Udayadeera also served as the Manager - Sri Lanka Team - Singapore Marathon 2003, Vice President -Technical Officials Association - AA of Sri Lanka, Vice President Kurunegala District AA, Sports Instructor (Junior Rugger & Athletic Coach), President - Kandy & Jaffna
District AA, Official Recorder - AA of Sri Lanka - (1996–1997) and Executive Committee Member of AA of Sri Lanka between 1996-2003.
on Sunday April 6, 2008, morning at Weliweriya
before the start of a Marathon race at a New Year Sports Festival organized by an athletic club. Lt Colonel P.S.S.R. Udayadeera was posthumously promoted by the Army to the rank of Colonel in appreciation of his service to the nation.
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Perumbadage Shantha Saliya Ramya Udayadeera (7 September 1961 - 6 April 2008) was Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n military officer and athlete. He was the commander of the 11th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the first rifle regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalions, five volunteer battalions and a headquarter battalion...
(SLSR), and then the Ambepussa SLSR Regimental Headquarters.
Early years
Perumbadage Shantha Saliya Ramya Udayadeera, was born on 7 September 1961 in PolgahawelaPolgahawela
Polgahawela is a town in north western Sri Lanka. The town is most notable for a major railway accident that occurred in 2005. Polgahawela is a small city that belongs to the North Western Province of Sri Lanka, and situated at a distance of 80 km north-east from the capital city of Colombo; 50 km...
, Kurunegala district. He received his primary and secondary education at St Anne's College, Kurunegala and St Joseph's College, Colombo 10 respectively.
National Cadet Corps and military career
On completion of his education, he joined the government service as an assistant teacher of English at Trinity College, KandyTrinity College, Kandy
Trinity College, Kandy founded in 1872 by Anglican missionaries, is an Independent elite private boys’ school providing primary and secondary education in Sri Lanka...
and was later trained at the reputed English Teachers' College, Peradeniya. During his tenure at Trinity College, P.S.S.R. Udayadeera joined the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps (SLCC) as a commissioned officer and led young Trinitians infusing highest tenets of discipline, enabling them to become future leaders in society. His patriotic sentiments coupled with cadetship experience in school inspired him to join the Sri Lanka Army, fighting to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The young P.S.S.R. Udayadeera joined the Infantry Regiment of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
The Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment is the first rifle regiment in the Sri Lanka Army and the second oldest infantry regiment in the army. It is made up of seven regular battalions, five volunteer battalions and a headquarter battalion...
(SLSR) on 1st Nov 1987 whilst simultaneously serving the Department of Education.
As an infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
officer he served in the operational areas for a long time holding many Grade I Staff appointments. He commanded the 11th Battalion SLSR before being posted to the Ambepussa SLSR Regimental Headquarters.
Athletic career
Lt Colonel P.S.S.R Udayadeera was a professional and talented Sports Officer who had followed many courses in the field such as National Technical Officer (Grade 1) Athletic Association (AA) of Sri Lanka, International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF) Coaches Level I - 1996, IAAF Technical Officials - Level I - 2005, National Olympic CommitteeNational Olympic Committee
National Olympic Committees are the national constituents of the worldwide Olympic movement. Subject to the controls of the International Olympic Committee, they are responsible for organizing their people's participation in the Olympic Games...
(NOC) Management Course - 1997, Amateur Athletic Association (AAA) Technical Official Exam - 1981 and a few other courses. He also attended a number of National and International meets as a Starter. SAF Games-1991 Sri Lanka, SAF Games - 1995 - India, Grand Prix - 2002 - Sri Lanka, Grand Prix - 2003 - Sri Lanka, Asian Championships - 2002 - Sri Lanka, SAF Games - 2006 - Sri Lanka and all National Level meets were among many he contributed after 1980 until his sudden demise.
Lt Colonel P.S.S.R Udayadeera also served as the Manager - Sri Lanka Team - Singapore Marathon 2003, Vice President -Technical Officials Association - AA of Sri Lanka, Vice President Kurunegala District AA, Sports Instructor (Junior Rugger & Athletic Coach), President - Kandy & Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
District AA, Official Recorder - AA of Sri Lanka - (1996–1997) and Executive Committee Member of AA of Sri Lanka between 1996-2003.
Death
Lt Colonel P.S.S.R. Udayadeera was among those who lost their lives along with Hon. Minister of Highways and Chief Government Whip Jeyaraj FernandopulleJeyaraj Fernandopulle
Jeyaraj Fernandopulle was a Sri Lankan politician who served as a cabinet Minister and a Member of Parliament in Sri Lanka. He was a Roman Catholic and hailed from a minority ethnic group Colombo Chetties.-Early life:...
on Sunday April 6, 2008, morning at Weliweriya
2008 Weliveriya bombing
On April 6, 2008, 15 people were killed by an alleged suicide bomber, who exploded himself at the start of a marathon race which was part of the Sinhala and Tamil New Year celebration in Weliweriya town, Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's national athletics coach Lakshman de Alwis, politician Jeyaraj...
before the start of a Marathon race at a New Year Sports Festival organized by an athletic club. Lt Colonel P.S.S.R. Udayadeera was posthumously promoted by the Army to the rank of Colonel in appreciation of his service to the nation.