VIPUL BOTEJUE IS NO MORE..... Sri Lanka has lost a remarkable soldier, sportsman, and leader.

A strict disciplinarian with an unconventional streak, Vipul pushed boundaries. He challenged his company officers who shied away from his adventurous spirit, and he was equally demanding of his superiors, introducing new tactics and training techniques. To him, soldiering was a calling-not a job.

- By Lt.Col.Sunil Peiris retd.

Vipul was an swimmer and an equally accomplished water polo player.

A proud product of Royal College, Colombo 7, he joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1969 and was enrolled in the 2nd Intake of Officer Cadets at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa.

He took to the rigors of military training like a duck to water.

Although another intake was senior to his, Vipul's natural leadership, confidence, and drive quickly made him stand out. After a demanding eighteen months of training, he was commissioned along with twelve colleagues.

As a young Second Lieutenant of the Gemunu Watch, he joined me and Gibbrey Muthalib in Diyatalawa. As the designated subaltern, he took the brunt of the good-natured rough and tumble that young officers faced. But Vipul was never one to take anything lying down he gave back as good as he got. Even in those early years, his loyalty, discipline, integrity, and unwavering commitment to military standards set him apart. Strong, spirited, and fearless, he combined physical strength with sharp intellect.