Ranjith Premasiri Madalana

Ranjith Premasiri
Nickname(s) ‘Nero’
Born Pallama, Madulana in Kurunegala
Died 28 April 2009
Allegiance Sri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Army
Years of service 1991–2009
Rank Corporal
Unit Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force , 5th Battalion Gajaba Regiment
Battles/wars Sri Lankan Civil War, Operation Riviresa, Eelam War IV
Awards Poorna Bhumi, Uthuru Negenhira Sangramicka, 50 years independence medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal,, Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, Desha Putra Sammanaya

Cpl. I. Ranjith Premasiri alias ‘Nero’, was a decorated Sri Lanka Army sniper with 180 confirmed LTTE kills during the Eelam War.[1]

He was killed on 28 April 2009 just 20 days before the end of the conflict.[2]

Military career

He joined the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force in 1991 at the age of 22 at the height of the Sri Lankan Civil War. After his training at the Diyathalawa Army base he was attached to the 5th Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment.

After completing the Sri Lanka Army 8th sniper course he joined the Army snipers in 2000.

He was injured several times during his service but insisted on serving in active duty.

On 28 April 2009 as Corporal Premasiri was trying to pick out LTTE terrorists hiding among Tamil refugees fleeing to government controlled areas in Puthumathalan, he was killed by a LTTE sniper. The Sri Lankan Civil war ended on 18 May 2009 just 20 days after his death. By the time of his death Corporal Premasiri had served 18 years in the Sri Lanka Army and 9 years of it as a sniper with 180 confirmed kills.

Awards

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Infolanka. How the LTTE was 'military' defeated: A Soldier’s view - Part Seven. infolanka.asia. Infolanka. Retrieved 28 March 2015. It is ‘Juba’ the sniper who causes havoc in Iraq and it was Corporal W.I. Ranjith Premasiri alias ‘Nero’ of SLA who was responsible for the deaths of more than 180 Tiger cadres, before his demise on 28 April 2009.
  2. ↑ Let us remember Nero: the Phussadeva of our time, the archer who never missed his mark lankanewspapers.com - April 28, 2010
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