INSSSL Annual Lecture Series feature Late Colonel Fazly Laphir
August 07, 2019Another segment of the Annual Lecture Series of the Institute of National Security Studies Sri Lanka (INSSSL) was conducted at the Auditorium at Suhurupaya in Battaramulla, today (07 August 2019).
The lecture, this year was conducted on late Colonel Fazly Laphir PWV RWP RSP, Commanding Officer of the 1st Special Forces Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army who laid down his life leading a daring operation to relieve the besieged Mullaithivu Army base on 18th July, 1996. The late Colonel Laphir volunteering to lead the rescue mission was air dropped under heavy enemy fire. He was severely wounded during the operation but continued to lead his men but later sacrificed his life due to an explosion in the battleground.
His courageous act on that day to save the lives of 1500 comrades, he was awarded the “Parama Weera Vibhushanaya”, the highest award for valour in Sri Lanka and posthumously promoted to the rank of Colonel.
The lecture programme commenced with the observing of a moment of silence in memory of all fallen War Heroes, which was followed by a video presentation on the late Colonel Laphir. The message of the Secretary Defence was read by the Coordinating Secretary & Advisor to the Secretary Defence, Mr. Suren Dayaratne.
The lecture was delivered by Brigadier HP Ranasinghe under the theme “Epic of a War Hero Colonel AF Laphir PWV RWP RSP”. Founder of the Special Forces Major General Gamini Hettiarachchi (Rtd) also spoke on the occasion.
Mrs. Anoma Laphir, Director General of the INSSSL Mr. Asanga Abeyagunasekara, senior Tri Forces officers including the Army Chief of Staff Major General Shavendra Silva and Air Force Chief of Staff Air Vice Marshal SK Pathirana, Commandant of the STF SDIG MR Latheef, past commanders, members of the diplomatic corps and special invitees were also present at the occasion.
