On 17 December 1999, two MI 24 helicopters were detailed to engage the enemy boats which were attacking the Forward Defence Line of the Sri Lanka Army in the general area of “Thamilamadam”, South East of Elephant Pass.

Wing Commander TDS Silvapulle who was flying the MI 24 Attack Helicopter (CH 618) led the battle formation. Having promptly analyzed the threat of the enemy boats to the Sri Lanka Army and the threat posed to his helicopter by the enemy’s capability to attack with surface to air missiles and the adverse weather conditions, Wing Commander TDS Silvapulle, instructed his wingman to remain away from danger and proceeded to attack the enemy. The daring attack against the enemy was successful and the eyewitness reports confirmed that the enemy boats were fleeing from the areas as they could not sustain the firepower of Wing Commander TDS Silvapulle’s attack.

However, the helicopter was hit with a projectile fired from one of the enemy boats, which may have been a surface to air missile causing the helicopter to crash. The brave decision of Wing Commander TDS Silvapulle to attack the enemy knowing the threat posed by surface to air missiles and the risk to his own life saved many lives and assisted the operational aim of the Sri Lanka Army and Air Force.

Wing Commander TDS Silvapulle (01502) – General Duties Pilot, for his individual act of gallantry and conspicuous bravery of the most exceptional order, performed voluntarily in the face of the enemy whilst on active service, with the objective of safeguarding the lives of his comrades and facilitating the operational aim his force, was posthumously awarded the “Parama Weera Vibhushanaya” on 19 May 2012.

Wing Commander TDS Silvapulle is the only recipient of the gallantry decoration, “Parama Weera Vibhushanaya” in the Sri Lanka Air Force.