Flt Lt Kasun Cumaratunga remembered on his 37th death anniversary

Kasun, was born in 28th Sept 1964, the grandson of the legendary author and linguist Munidasa Cumaratunga and son of SSP Bindu Kumaratunga and Winifred, his elder brother Lasitha 1st XI Cricketer, of Ananda College as well as younger brother Milindu.

- Nilakshan Perera

Kasun was already well known among us for his charisma, intellect, and sporting prowess, particularly in cricket. His presence lit up any gathering. We had shared many memories together, commuting in the same school bus from Panadura.

One Sunday morning in March 1984, I was informed by the KDA Guard House that two visitors were waiting for me. I welcomed them in the visitor's lounge of Sir John's bungalow and was delighted to see my classmate Harendra Perusinghe and our younger schoolmate Kasun Cumaratunga, an exceptionally talented and vibrant young man whose humility matched his brilliance.

Both Kasun and Harendra had just applied to the Sri Lanka Air Force. While Harendra aspired to be a Regimenta Officer, Kasun's heart was set on flying. They were full of excitement and questions about the selection process. A few weeks later, they proudly informed me they had been selected for SLAF Intake 12 in May 1984. (Group Captain Harendra, who went on to have a distinguished service career, tragically passed away in 2011.)

Kasun's journey in the SLAF was nothing short of extraordinary. Widely admired by his peers, he was known not only for his aerial skill able to land a helicopter on a proverbial razor's edge, but for his boundless generosity and selflessness. Even under enemy fire or during tense missions, Kasun was the first to volunteer, always putting others before himself.