On 17 December 1999, the army's forward defence lines at Thamilamadam near Elephant Pass came under attack from a group of Tamil Tiger boats.

Despite adverse weather conditions and the potential danger to his aircraft, Silvapulle continued to pursue the fleeing boats and attack them.

[3][4] The damaged aircraft crashed into the Kilali lagoon, killing Silvapulle, his co-pilot Flying Officer Chinthaka Prashan De Soysa and two gunners.

Their bodies were later retrieved in a joint operation by the air force and army lead by Flying Officer S. P. V. K. Senadheera.

[6] The citation for his medal commends his actions on 17 December 1999 as follows: The brave decision of Wing Commander T. D. S. Silvapulle to attack the enemy knowing the threat posed by surface to air missiles and the risk to his own life is to be thus commended with the awarding of "Parama Weera Vibhushanaya" in his honour.

[7]His medal was awarded to his next-of-kin on 19 May 2012 by Mahinda Rajapaksa, the President of Sri Lanka, at the celebrations marking the third anniversary of the end of the war.