Nickname(s) Raja, Kadee Name Kanchana Kadigawe Died 2008, Kandy, Sri Lanka | Years of service 1941-46 Rank Private 267305 | |
Unit 5th Battalion, C company Commands held Senior Superintendent of Police Ceylon Police and Sri Lankan Police Battles and wars World War II, Greece, Greek Civil War | ||
Service/branch 2nd Parachute Brigade Allegiance Ceylon
United Kingdom | ||
Kanchana Senarat Kadigawa was a Sri Lankan police officer who served as a Paratrooper in the British Army in World War 2 and was mentioned in dispatches.
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Early life
Kadigawe was born in 1921 at Kadigawa Walawwa situated in the hamlet of Kadigawa in the Wanni and was known as Rajah by his family. Kadigawe was a descendant of the Adigar of Nikeweratiya. He was educated at Ananda College Colombo where he was on the boxing team and cadet corps.
Career as a paratrooper
Kadigawe joined the British army and was assigned to the Royal Army Service Corps. On arrival in the Middle East he volunteered and was accepted to join the Parachute Regiment (as it later became known) and was assigned to the 5th Battalion (Scottish) 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade, the only Asian in that service at the time.
Anecdotal accounts reported in the Sri Lankan press suggest that he saw action in the Mediterranean Theatre in Greece and Italy September 1943 (where the Paras operated as line infantry) and jumped into Southern France in August 1944. He also served during the Athens occupation force in the winter of 1944-45.
Honours
He was mentioned in dispatches for services in the South of France.
Later career
On demobilisation he was recruited to the Ceylon Police as a Sub Inspector by Sir Richard Aluwihare rising to the rank of Senior Superintendent of Police and serving on the personal protection detail for the Prime Minister.