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Brigadier H. A. Nihal Hapuarachchi RSP psc of Sri Lanka Corps of Engineers assumed office on Wednesday (10) as the twelfth Director of Media at Army Headquarters after a simple ceremony. He is also to serve the office of Military Spokesman.
He succeeds Major General U.A.B Medawela leaving on overseas training.
Brigadier Hapuarachchi during his Army career of twenty-nine years after he was enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army (Regular Force) on 25 May 1982 has to-date held a number of Command and Staff appointments, including those in the Engineer Regiment.
During decisive battles against terrorists, he served as Brigadier General Staff at the Wanni Security Forces Headquarters. Similarly, he performed a challenging task in Jaffna as troops were rolling towards the North during Wanni humanitarian operations.
Brigadier Hapuarachchi, to his credit was the Commanding Officer of the 7 Field Engineers of Sri Lanka Engineers in Infantry role and Commandant, School of Military Engineering, Commander, 513 Infantry Brigade, and had the opportunity of working as an Officer Instructor and subsequently as the Chief Instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy. He has also served as a Directing Staff at the then Army Command and Staff College, now the Defence Services Command and Staff College at Sapugaskanda.
His wide range of staff appointments includes Director, Recruiting at Army Headquarters, Brigadier General Staff at Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni during Humanitarian Operations, Colonel General Staff in Sri Lanka Volunteer Force Headquarters, Grade II Staff Officer (operation) at the former Joint Operational Command and several other appointments in different headquarters and field formations in the North.
Brigadier Hapuarachchi, a recipient of the elite ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ (RSP) in recognition of his gallantry in the battlefield has also been awarded eight more other medals, appreciative of his roles and services to the Army. He also received the President’s Medal at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa and a Gold Medal for his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Rajarata, Mihintale.
Brigadier Hapuarachchi has also undergone overseas training after following Engineers Young Officers’ Course (1989) at the College of Military Engineering - India, Engineer Officers’ Mid-Career Course (1996) and Battalion Commanders’ Courses (2000) at Military College of Engineering - Pakistan and Higher Defence Management Refresher Course (2006) at College of Defence Management - India. He also attended the Seminar on War-related Matters in India a few years ago. Being a graduate of the Army Command and Staff College, Quetta, Pakistan and Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies, Hawaii, he has held all the responsible appointments an officer could hold in an Engineer Battalion.
Before joining the Army, he completed his studies at Colombo Royal College. As a fan of sports, he was awarded Colours for three sport disciplines and captained Royal College volleyball team in the year 1978.
Brigadier Hapuarachchi has been serving as Brigadier Coordinating of the Sapugaskanda Defence Services Command and Staff College before he takes up the new appointment at Army Headquarters on Wednesday (10).
He also serves as the Vice Chairman in the Army Tennis Committee and represents Sri Lanka Army in lawn Tennis. He is married and blessed with two sons.
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