Ranjith Premasiri Madalana

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Sniper Nero - Ranjith Premasiri †

DPS, PBP
Birth nameRanjith Premasiri Madalana
Nickname(s)Nero
BornPallama, Sri Lanka
Died28 April 2009 (2009-04-29)
Allegiance Sri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Army
Years of service1991–2009
Rank02. SLA-CPL.svg Corporal
UnitSri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
5th Battalion Gajaba Regiment
Battles/warsSri Lankan Civil War
AwardsDesha Putra Sammanaya ribbon bar.svg Desha Putra Sammanaya
Purna Bhumi Padakkama ribbon bar.svg Purna Bhumi Padakkama
North and East Operations Medal ribbon bar.svg North and East Operations Medal
Riviresa Campaign Services Medal ribbon bar.svg Riviresa Campaign Services Medal
Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal ribbon bar.svg Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal.svg 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal

Ranjith Premasiri Madalana alias "Nero" was a decorated Sri Lanka Army sniper with 217 confirmed LTTE kills during the Eelam War.[1]

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]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "How the LTTE was 'military' defeated: A Soldier's view - Part Seven". infolanka.asia. Infolanka. Retrieved 28 March 2015.
  2. ^ Let us remember Nero: the Phussadeva of our time, the archer who never missed his mark lankanewspapers.com - April 28, 2010
  3. ^ https://www.themorning.lk/arimac-launches-nero-today/
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