27th December 2023 19:29:02 Hours
The retiring Major General K.A.W.S Ratnayake ndu of the Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC), the Chief Signal Officer (CSO) of the Army and SLSC Colonel Commandant on invitation arrived at the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, on Wednesday (27 Dec), together with his family members.
After completing more than 35 years of commendable service in the Army, the Senior Officer on the verge of retirement received sincere compliments, appreciative remarks and best wishes from the Army Chief during the brief meeting at the Commander's office. The Commander of the Army spoke high of his dedicated services and innovative contribution to the growth of SLSC and appreciated his commitment to the organization, recalling a couple of memorable instances during past combat operations.
The Commander of the Army also exchanged a few pleasantries with the retiree's wife and the daughter who were also present and shared a few thoughts. He also did not fail to mention the support that the retiree’s family members have always extended to the outgoing Officer in the performance of his challenging roles, irrespective of day and night as an expert in Signals.
Major General K.A.W.S Ratnayake ndu, also in turn thanked the Commander of the Army for his wishes and able guidance while mentioning the encouragement he received all the time during his tenure of service in the organization.
Towards the end of the interactions, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage awarded a special memento to the outgoing retiree as a symbol of appreciation and commendation along with a special gift to the family.
Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer;
Major General K.A.W.S Ratnayake ndu was enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 26 September 1988. Upon successful completion of military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy – Diyatalawa and Indian Military Academy (IMA), in Intake 30 - IMA, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC) on 05 October 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 18 May 2022.
He has been holding the offices of the Chief Signal Officer (CSO) and Colonel Commandant of SLSC at the time of his retirement. He also held the appointments of Platoon Commander of 1 SLSC, Platoon Commander (Recruit Training) of Combat Training School, Platoon Commander of Internal Security Platoon at 1 SLSC, Officer Commanding of O Troop at 1 SLSC, Personal Security Officer of the Governor of North Western Province, Signal Officer of 21 Infantry Brigade, Adjutant of 1 SLSC, Senior Intelligence Officer of 52 Infantry Division, General Staff Officer 3 (Communication) of Operations Command in Colombo, General Staff Officer 3 (Operations) of 22 Infantry Division, Brigade Major of 515 and 563 Infantry Brigades, Staff Officer 2 (Administration) of Area Headquarters in Galle, Second-in-Command of 5 SLSC, 7 SLSC and 2 (V) SLSC, Officer Instructor of Institute of Peace Support Operations Training - Sri Lanka, Military Observer of United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), Chief Instructor of School of Signals, Adjutant of Regimental Centre SLSC, Commanding Officer of 7 SLSC and 9 SLSC, General Staff Officer 1 (Electronic Warfare) and General Staff Officer 1 (Communication) of Office of the Chief Signal Officer at Army Headquarters, Commandant of School of Signals, Deputy Centre Commandant of Regimental Centre SLSC, Officiating Commander of 213 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier (General Staff) of Security Force Headquarters – Mullaitivu and Security Force Headquarters – Central, Commander of Forward Maintenance Area – East and Forward Maintenance Area – Central.
He has followed many local and foreign courses during his military career, such as Platoon Commanders’ Tactics Course, Unit Security Officers Course, Unit Accounting Officers Course, Basic Computer Course, Intelligence and Field Security Course, Officers’ Operational Staff Duties Course, Officers Par Excellence Course, Potential Military Observers and Staff Officers Course, Personal Security Officers Course, Junior Command Course, Signal Officers’ Basic Course – Bangladesh, Signal Company Commander Course – India, Senior Command Course – India and National Security and War Course – Pakistan.
The Senior Officer has also followed a number of higher educational and non-military courses, such as Political Theory and Practice Course at Sri Lanka Foundation, GIS and Applications Course at University of Peradeniya, Postgraduate Diploma in Public Management at Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration, National Diploma in Counselling at Sri Lanka Foundation Institute, Diploma in Senior Level Defence Management at the Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, India, Diploma in Total Information Security at Crypto Training Centre, Switzerland, Diploma in Information Technology at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Master of Business Administration at Cardiff Metropolitan University in United Kingdom, Master of Science in National Security and War Course at National Defence University in Pakistan, Master of Public Management at Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration and Masters in Conflict and Peace Studies at University of Colombo. In addition he holds the Sri Lanka Computer Competency License, issued by the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority.
