Denzil Kobbekaduwa

Lieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, SLAC was a Sri Lankan General. He led some of the most successful military operations in the early part of the Sri Lankan Civil War, such as Vadamarachchi Operation and Operation Balavegaya. He was mortally wounded and his commanders and staff killed when the Land Rover they were traveling in hit a land mine in the island of Kayts while making preparations for Operation Final Countdown the proposed invasion of the Jaffna Peninsula. Lt.Gen Kobbekaduwa is much respected for bravery and humane qualities he showed during his tenure.

He was born in Kandy, to Loku Bandara Kobbekaduwa and Lona Ratwatte as their second child and eldest of three sons. He received his primary education at Hillwood College and in 1948 entered Trinity College Kandy. He represented the college at rugby, hockey and cricket He won the Trinity Lion for rugby and was a school prefect. Although he was offered admission to the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya he opted for a military career.

Source: Wikipedia