20th December 2023 15:58:31 Hours
The most recently-appointed Chief of Staff (COS), Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu of Gajaba Regiment assumed office on Wednesday (20) at his new office at the Army HQ during a simple ceremony.
As members of the 'Maha Sangha’ began chanting ‘Seth Pirith’, Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu in his office signed an official document and symbolized the acceptance of the new office. Afterwards, the Chief of Staff of the Army interacted with the monks and offered ‘Pirikara’ and ‘Gilanpasa’ to the monks.
Prior to this new appointment, Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu served as the Commander, Security Forces - West.
A representative gathering of Senior Officers, including the Deputy Chief of Staff, Officers and Staff Officers at the office of the Chief of Staff (COS) and Other Ranks joined the inauguration of the new office.
Here is a brief profile of Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu;
Born on 6th June 1969, he is a proud product of St Anthony's Boys School in Panadura and Thurstan College, Colombo. During his schooling, he excelled in studies and athletics earning honour and fame to the school.
He joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 26th July 1988 in the Intake 30. Upon successful completion of the basic military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and was posted to the Gajaba Regiment (GR) which is an elegant Infantry Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army on 09th June 1990. After being steadily elevated to subsequent ranks in the course of the span of service in the Army, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 07 May 2021.
Throughout his military career, he has served in Command, Staff, and Instructional appointments exemplifying his extraordinary capacities in respective appointments in the Sri Lanka Army. He has extensively pledged exceptional dedication towards assignments of combat duties during the humanitarian operation in the North and East of the country before May 2009.
His appointments include Platoon Commander, Officer Commanding, ADC to Major General S.T.T Jayasundara (Rtd), Adjutant - Army Training School, Operation and Training Company Commander, Security Officer at Base Ordnance Depot Maradana, General Staff Officer II - 21 Infantry Division, Second in Command - 3 GR, Staff Officer II - Quartermaster General Branch, Staff Officer II - Directorate of Personnel Administration, Staff Officer II - Transits Camp Anuradhapura, Security Coordinator -Ministry of Defence, Commanding Officer - 8 GR, Brigade Commander of 522 Infantry Brigade, Center Commandant - Regimental HQ, Director - Directorate of Movement, General Officer Commanding of 52 Infantry Division, Military Advisor - United Nations Headquarters New York, Commander, Security Force - West and Colonel Commandant of Military Intelligence Corps.
Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu followed many local and foreign courses, such as Platoon Commander’s Tactics Course, Battalion Support Weapon Course, Basic Parachute Course, Air Mobile Course, Young Officer Course - India, Junior Command course - India, Capstone Exercise ‘Shanty Prayas’ - Nepal, Senior Command Course - India, Asia Pacific Centre For Security Studies Comprehensive Crisis Management Seminar - Honolulu - Hawaii and Defence and Strategic Studies Programme in China.
The Senior Officer has been adorned with gallantry awards of 'Rana Wickrama Padakkama' (RWP) and 'Rana Sura Padakkama' (RSP) for his distinguished conduct in the face of the enemy and recipient of Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV) in recognition of his distinguished service to the organization.
Major General W.H.K.S Peiris RWP RSP VSV USP ndu is also the Colonel Commandant of Military Intelligence Corps and married to Mrs Dilupa Peiris and blessed with three daughters.
