MAJOR GENERAL Prasad Samarasinghe assumed office as Military Spokesman and Director, Directorate of Media in the Army this morning (8) during a brief ceremony, held at Media Center for National Security (MCNS).

Major General Samarasinghe as Military Spokesman had the rare opportunity of contributing to the initial phase of the onset of the Humanitarian Operations that started off from Mavil Aru in the East during the years 2006-2007. He was coincidentally promoted to the rank of Major General from a Brigadier today (8) itself just a couple of hours after he took office as Military Spokesman.

His predecessor, Brigadier V. Udaya B. Nanayakkara, former Military Spokesman and Director, Directorate of Media took office as Chief Field Engineer, Chief Field Engineer Office a few days ago after serving the Military Spokesman appointment in the most turbulent times of the Eelam War for over two years when the Wanni Humanitarian Operations were at their peak.

Major General Samarasinghe who is also the Chief Signal Officer (CSO) of the Army and Chief Controller, Center for Research and Development at Ministry of Defence and will continue his functions, in addition to his appointment as Military Spokesman. 

Major General Samarasinghe initialed an official document to signify the assumption of duties after he lit the traditional oil lamp in the MCNS office. Later on, he spoke to a gathering of Officers attached to the MCNS.

Major General Samarasinghe who also previously served as Military Spokesman and Director, Directorate of Media (December 2005-September 2007) was later appointed as Defence Advisor at High Commission for Sri Lanka in the UK.

The newly appointed Military Spokesman Major General Samarasinghe, as one of the Senior Signal Officers in the Army with a service record spanning over 30 years, has held a number of prestigious appointments after he was enlisted to the Army in 1980. He is an MSc (Defence Studies) graduate from Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. 

To his credit, he also held a number of other important staff appointments such as Commander for three separate Brigades in Jaffna, Wanni and Trincomalee, Colonel General Staff, 22 Division Headquarters, Trincomalee, Colonel General Staff, Directorate of Operations, Army Headquarters, Assistant Military Secretary, Army Headquarters and the Centre Commandant, Sri Lanka Signal Corps, to name a few.  

He also followed overseas career military courses in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, including the Senior Command Course in India, Staff Course in Staff College, Bangladesh and the Electronic Course in UK. In addition, he attended a number of military seminars and workshops including the one in the Philippines, Malaysia and four in Hawai, USA. 

The simple ceremony at MCNS this morning (8) was attended by MCNS Director General Mr. Lakshman Hulugalle the outgoing Military Spokesman Brigadier V. Udaya B. Nanayakkara and senior officers at MCNS. Major General Samarasinghe is an old pupil at Colombo Ananda College.