Former Mullaittivu Battle Hero Colonel Laphir Remembered
 Recapture
of Mullaittivu township by Sri Lanka Army refreshes memories of brave
soldiers who had sacrificed their lives during yesteryear fighting in
the same area for the sake of safeguarding the territorial integrity of
the country. The decisive day was 18th July 1996 when the terrorists
launched a massive onslaught on the Mullaittivu camp and decimated over
1200 heroic soldiers who valiantly fought until the last soldier.
Colonel A. Fazly Laphir, then Commanding Officer of the 1
SF (Special Force) who led his troops to reinforce the 6 Brigade troops
under siege was the senior most officer to lay his life during the
Mullaittivu battle in 1996.
Colonel A. Fazly Laphir, using his training expertise got
himself airdropped with his team of brave SF soldiers into the tactical
area with the noble objective of rescuing brother soldiers even without
considering the threat to his own life when there was no option for the
infantry troops to reach Mullaittivu through land.
This brave SF officer who destroyed a large number of
terrorists and their weapons and ammunition during the mission named "Thrividha
Pahara" was fatally injured due to a terrorist bullet before he brought
his great mission to a total completion.
As all access routes were cut off from all directions,
no one could help save the life of this senior officer who did not let
his morale lose even at the eleventh hour. On 18th July 1996 Colonel A. Fazly Laphir bade adieu to his valued life in the battle field. In
recognition of his valour, he was posthumously awarded the PWV (Parama
Weera Vibushanaya), the highest Gallantry Medal for bravery.
Courtesy : SL Army |
