Lt. Col. Mathana
Lt. Col. Mathana
Mathana was one of the brave fighters who, from the thick bushes that grew on both sides of the road, raised her eyes and watched the enemy army and waited for their movements. In 1991, the LTTE attacked a police jeep coming from Vahaneri to Welikada. Although this was her first battlefield, she fought very skillfully and was responsible for the death of many soldiers.
Since then, she has seen many battlefields. She participated in every attack in the east and paved the way for the destruction of the Sinhala government forces. Her courage, agility, and clear thinking, which fully understood our liberation struggle, made Mathana our only one, even though she was young.
The Amparai Special Commander appointed her as the Special Commander of the Anparasi Regiment. There was no one like Mathana in making her fighters happy, speaking in a loving and polite manner. She was like a mother, a companion, and a commander in the field, guiding her fighters. She loved playing with her comrades. She would never let her fighters stay in the camp after four o’clock in the afternoon. She would encourage all her comrades to play games such as football, volleyball, and cricket. This would balance the mental anguish caused by losses in the battle for everyone.
Vagarai, located on the coast of the Eastern Province, was her birthplace. She would stand in it and play with the waves and pick up all the sand on the shore with her hands. She was born as the fourth child among the seven children of the Nagendram Poomani couple.
While studying in the eighth grade, I could not bear the atrocities of selfish demons everywhere I looked, so I joined the movement in 1990.
She also received training at the first training camp in Mattacalappu. From late 1993 to 1994, the Sri Lankan army’s aggression in the eastern forests increased with the aim of destroying the strength of the LTTE. When the LTTE’s food supply routes were blocked, there was a shortage of food and the LTTE suffered from a situation of one porridge every three days. When this situation continued for a year, the fighters were powerless to stand up. At that time, only Mathana would say loving words and hug the fighters and comfort them. ‘If we become inactive, the enemy’s strength will increase,’ was her opinion. She was also not ignorant of hunger. She would gather with the fighters, beat the drums and sing songs to entertain everyone.
When our camps were surrounded by the enemy many times, she stood bravely with the help of the commanders and fought back the siege. ‘Today or tomorrow, I may die a hero’. In the meantime, I must see the national leader in person at least once;’ That was her long life. No matter how happily she got used to it, this pain did not leave her mind. When the situation in the East improved somewhat, there were many attacks on military camps such as the destruction of the army camp. She was happy to have participated fully in everything and completely repelled the enemy. It was then that when she arrived in Northern Tamileelam in mid-1996, an immense joy awaited her.
She saw the national leader in person and made a place in the national leader’s mind. ‘It doesn’t matter if I die a hero’ she would often say. Some fighters in the East have died a hero’s death without seeing the national leader. Their last wish was to see the national leader at least once. She gave them this kind of reward. She really wanted her fighters to meet the national leader like her.
At that time, training was being conducted for the destruction of the Bulugunawa camp. The enemy was shocked by the bravery of the LTTE in the battle of Bulugunawa. The entire army fell to the LTTE. In this, Mathana also played a major role with her army.
After that, Mathana took part in many ambushes. It must be said that there was no place in the Eastern Province where she was not hit. Mathana would stand face to face and drive the enemy away from the battlefield.
On 05.03.97, she was also given a part in the attack on the Vavunatheevu occupation army base where more than 350 Gajabahu special forces were stationed. The fight began at 01.45 in the morning. A fierce fight continued for 6 hours. After killing more than a hundred soldiers, the terrified enemy ran away. Chasing and beating Mathana, she cleared her area and advanced. ‘Amman, we have captured our area,’ her voice rang out excitedly on the walkie-talkie. It was at that moment that a tragic incident occurred. A shell exploded and claimed Mathana’s life. When Mathana lost contact with the walkie-talkie in a short time, the tragedy became a sensation among everyone. Mathana had died a heroic death. When she ran away, she saw another friend carrying her lifeless body. Yes. She had insisted that she should play a part in her Anbarasi regiment and was so proud of having achieved the same feat. Yes.
The captain who died a heroic death in the explosion of the Nalam Mutsanthi army camp. Anbarasi. She was also an active fighter. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Mathana to help grow the women’s regiment in the east. It was because of Anbarasi’s tireless service that Mathana named her regiment the Anbarasi Regiment and showed her bravery in action and dedicated herself to this land.
The unsmiling revolutionary flame has disappeared from us. Although no one could bear the news of her heroic death, her comrades continue to follow her footsteps, hoping that the torches of sacrifice will be sown in the soil and that the seeds of freedom will become trees tomorrow.
On this day, we remember the 92 freedom fighters who embraced heroic death with her.
Fighter – S. Shakti
(Translated by Tamilpriya)
0 Comments