Captain Angayarkanni

Captain Angayarkanni

* The first female Karum Puli.
* The first female Sea Karum Puli.
* The very first Karum Puli to carry out an underwater operation.

The hardships caused by the genocidal Sri Lankan Navy’s Surveillance Vessel’s operations were immeasurable. She was chosen to disable it.

She was incredibly skilled, swimming continuously for 18.5 hours and covering a distance of 36 kilometres.

She carried 50 kg of equipment on her back, intended for the surveillance ship. She promised not to return until she had successfully disabled the Vessel. She was supposed to place the devices under the ship’s hull and return, but tragically, she sank with the Vessel, having successfully completed the operation.

She used to be scared to go out at night, often dragging her mother along when she needed to step outside (back then, our washrooms were outside the house, not attached like they are now). But over time, she transformed into a warrior—someone who could carry out an operation in the dark, swimming underwater.

The darkness and silence of the underwater world, mesmerising for a brief moment, could drive a person to madness if endured for too long. Yet, she conquered it.