Death
On 8 August 1992 as Jaffna Brigade Commander, Brigadier Vijaya Wimalaratne was accompanied Major General (posthumously Lieutenant General) Denzil Kobbekaduwa, General Officer Commanding Northern Sector and Commodore (posthumously Rear Admiral) Mohan Jayamaha, Commander Northern Naval Area were killed when the Land Rover they were traveling in was destroyed by a land mine blast. Brigadier Wimalaratne was killed instantly he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Major General. Seven others were killed in the including Lt. Colonels G.H. Ariyaratne, A. Palipahana, H.R. Stephen, all three battalion commanders and Major N.S. De Alwis, General Kobbekaduwa's ADC.
They were planning an offensive code named "Operation Final Countdown" to liberate the northern peninsula from the LTTE, which was to be launched shortly. The final decision was delayed until they could reconnoiter in a particular area to finalise troop movements, which required a visit to Araly point the next day. As they were returning to be taken back to the base by helicopter, the incident occurred. It has been claimed that it was an assignation which had be carried out by the LTTE by Jane's Information Group.
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