27th March 2024 15:02:05 Hours
Major General K.P.S.A. Fernando RWP RSP ndu of the Gajaba Regiment (GR), the Director General Infantry and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock, arrived at the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, on 26 March 2024, accompanied by his spouse, prior to his retirement after a landmark career of more than 35 years in the Army.
During the cordial meeting, the Army Chief praised the retiring Senior Officer for his dedicated service and performance of diverse and challenging responsibilities with unfailing commitment and selflessness. He also recalled the retiree’s invaluable sacrifices and roles during the height of the war against terrorism before May 2009, as well as his effective discharge of duties in the post-war scenario.
In return, Major General K.P.S.A. Fernando RWP RSP ndu thanked the Army Chief for the invitation and expressed his gratitude for the guidance extended to him in performing varied duties.
The Army Chief also commended the invaluable support given to the Senior Officer by his family throughout his career, particularly during challenging times when he was engaged in operations to safeguard the motherland away from home.
Towards the end of the interactions, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage awarded a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a symbol of appreciation and commendation, along with a special gift to his spouse.
Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:
Major General K.P.S.A. Fernando RWP RSP ndu joined the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 20 January 1989. After completing military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa and Indian Military Academy (IMA) in Intake 31- IMA, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 05 October 1990 and posted to the Gajaba Regiment. Throughout his career, he held various appointments and steadily elevated to subsequent ranks, ultimately reaching the rank of Major General on 10 October 2021.
He held the offices of Director General Infantry and Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock at the time of his retirement. He also held appointments such as Platoon Commander of 6 GR, Officer Commanding of the Army Training School, Officer Commanding of 6 GR, Officer Instructor of Officer Cadet Training Wing at Sri Lanka Military Academy, Officer Commanding of 16 GR, Officer Commanding (Administration) of 3 GR, Staff Officer 2 of Quarter Master General's Branch at Army Headquarters, General Staff Officer 2 (Operations/Training) and Adjutant of Regimental Centre of GR, Officiating Commanding Officer of 3 GR and 16 GR, Commanding Officer of 3 GR and 23 GR, Contingent Commander of Sri Lanka Force Protection Company (SLFPC) in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Staff Officer of Task Force Secretariat for CHOGM 2013, Colonel (General Staff) of 24 Infantry Division, Security Force Headquarters (South) and Security Force Headquarters (West), Officiating Commander of 533 Infantry Brigade and 643 Infantry Brigade, Commandant of Institute of Peace Support Operations Training - Sri Lanka and General Officer Commanding of 52 Infantry Division and 53 Infantry Division.
For his bravery and gallantry on the battlefields, he has been awarded the ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ and ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’.
He has completed numerous local and foreign courses during his military career, such as Platoon Commanders Tactics Course, Battalion Support Weapons Officers’ Course, International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights Training Course, Young Officers’ Infantry Course - Pakistan, Mid-Career Course - Pakistan, Infantry Captains Career Course - The United States of America, and Senior Command Course - India.
The Senior Officer also pursued a number of higher educational and non-military courses, such as Diploma in Senior Level Defence Management at the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya in India, Diploma in Peace Studies Maneuverist Warfare in Fort Benning, Columbus, Georgia, the United States of America, Diploma in Human Rights at the Institute of Human Rights in Sri Lanka, Diploma in Diplomacy and World Affairs at Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute and Diploma in Strategic and Resilience Studies at the National Resilience Institute of the Republic of Indonesia.
