Ranjith Premasiri Madalana
Ranjith Premasiri Madalana alias "Nero" was a decorated Sri Lanka Army sniper with 217 confirmed LTTE kills during the Eelam War.[1]
Ranjith Premasiri † DPS, PBP | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Ranjith Premasiri Madalana |
| Nickname(s) | Nero |
| Born | 1969 Pallama, Sri Lanka |
| Died | April 28, 2009 (aged 39–40) |
| Allegiance |  Sri Lanka |
| Service/ |  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 |
| Awards |  Desha Putra Sammanaya Purna Bhumi Padakkama North and East Operations Medal Riviresa Campaign Services Medal Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal |
He was killed on 28 April 2009, 20 days before the end of the conflict.[2]
Military career
At the height of the Sri Lankan Civil War, Premasiri joined the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force in 1991 at the age of 22. 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, LTTE combatants took hiding among Tamil refugees that were fleeing to government controlled areas in Puthumathalan. While tracking the combatants, Corporal Premasiri was killed by an LTTE sniper.
The Sri Lankan Civil war ended on 18 May 2009 just 20 days after Corporal Premasiri's death. At the time of his death, he had served 18 years in the Sri Lanka Army and 9 years of it as a sniper with 217 confirmed kills.
Legacy
In 2021, Arimac Lanka Private Limited launched a third person stealth action game called "Nero" focused on him and his family. Throughout the game, the game designers pay a tribute to the Sri Lankan forces, especially Nero. The game which is available on Steam has a PC-based single-player campaign and a mobile-based multiplayer. [3]
Honors and decorations
| Desha Putra Sammanaya | Purna Bhumi Padakkama | ||
| North and East Operations Medal | Riviresa Campaign Services Medal | Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal | 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal |
References
- "How the LTTE was 'military' defeated: A Soldier's view - Part Seven". infolanka.asia. Infolanka. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
- Let us remember Nero: the Phussadeva of our time, the archer who never missed his mark lankanewspapers.com - April 28, 2010
- "Arimac launches NERO today". 25 September 2021.