06th April 2022 07:30:07 Hours
Major General Upali Gunasekara, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 62 Division on the verge of his retirement from the Army, having completed an illustrious service of more than 33 years was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army at the Army Headquarters on Tuesday (5).
General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army during the interactive meet in the presence of his family members commended Major General Upali Gunasekara’s dedicated and committed roles in various capacities and his commitment to the growth of his regiment, the Sri Lanka Artillery Regiment.
The Army Chief gratefully recalled and appreciated the retiring Senior Officer’s untiring and dedicated services for defence of the motherland during Humanitarian Operations and also his commendable roles for the sake of the organization while serving in different capacities in the organization.
The Army Chief inquired into future plans of the outgoing Senior Officer after leaving the Army and shared a few thoughts with his family members including the spouse and two children who were present at the occasion. His son is employed as a marine engineer and his daughter is currently a day scholar undergraduate of Kotelawla Defence University. He also complimented Mrs Gunasekera on her devotion to the family affairs and raising of children courageously while the retiring Senior Officer was away in the battlefield.
The outgoing Senior Officer also thanked the Commander of the Army for his warm wishes and the thoughtfulness while mentioning about the encouragement he received from the Army Chief in the performance of his duties during his three-decade long career. Towards the end of the interaction, General Shavendra Silva awarded a special memento to the outgoing Major General Upali Gunasekara as a symbol of appreciation and commendation.
A special gift was also awarded to the family at the same occasion before they left the premises.
Here follows a brief profile of Major General Upali Gunasekara :
He enlisted in the Army in 1988 as an Officer Cadet, he held a number of important appointments such as the Troops Commander, 6 Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery., Battery Captain, and 6 Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery. Battery Commander, 4,8 Field and 10 Med Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery, HQ Battery Commander, 8 Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery, Second in Commander, 8 Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery, Commanding Officer, 4 Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery, Brigade Commander, 563 Infantry Brigade, Commander 221 Infantry Brigade, Commander 142 Infantry Brigade, General Officer Commanding 62 Infantry Division.
Among other staff appointments and instructor appointments, he held included: Intelligence Officer, 6 Field Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery, Officer Commanding (Admin), Special Force Training School General Staff Officer 1, Headquarters 21 Infantry Divisions, General Staff Officer 1 (Plans), Army Headquarters, General Staff Officer 1 (Plans), Army Headquarters, Colonel (General Staff), Headquarters 61 and 22 Infantry Division, Colonel (General Staff), Headquarters 61 and 22 Infantry Division, Brigadier (General Staff) SFHQ (East), Officer Instructor, Army Training School - Maduruoya, Instructor Gunnery in Charge, School of Artillery - Minneriya, Instructor Gunnery in Charge, School of Artillery - Minneriya, Chief Instructor of the School of Artillery - Minneriya.
He also followed many courses both here and overseas ad received foreign training, including Basic Cadet Training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Officers Advance Physical Training Course - APEC Panagoda, Preliminary Artillery Young Officer Course - School of Artillery Minneriya, Infantry young Officer Course - ATS Maduruoya, Artillery Officers Advanced Course - School of Artillery Minneriya, Artillery Young Officers' Course - India Regimental Survey Officers Course - India152 mm Artillery Course - China, Mid-Career Course - Pakistan, Long Gunnery Staff Course - India, Unit Commander’s Staff Course - Bangladesh and ROE Workshop - Australia.
He has also followed several Diplomas and other non-military courses.
