Retiring DCOS’ Services Hailed

The Army’s outgoing Deputy Chief of Staff and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Artillery Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda on the eve of his retirement from the Army after 35 years of dedicated and excellent service was formally invited on Tuesday (21) to the Commander’s office at the Army Headquarters along with his family members.

General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army during the cordial meet that followed exchanged pleasantries and noteworthy recollections during their military careers while focusing how they closely worked during humanitarian operations and also in the aftermath of the conflict for the best interests of the country and the people who were under the LTTE siege many years ago.

The Army Chief gratefully acknowledged the retiring Senior Officer’s fearless contribution to the fight against LTTE terrorism and capture of LTTE-held territories and also his sustained commitment for the growth of his own Artillery Regiment as Colonel Commandant of the Regiment and also before that appointment.

Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army on 8 September 2021 by HE the President on the recommendation of the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and the Ministry of Defence while he was serving as the Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.

General Shavendra Silva during the meet inquired into his future endeavours as well as his other plans after retirement from the Army having served for more than 35 years of exemplary service and dedication. He also told his family members how the retiring Senior Officer toiled for the country without a break as a true son of the soil and appreciated his family’s unfailing and sustained backing for execution for his uninterrupted career commitments, without which he would not have been fully dedicated to the cause.

Here follows the brief profile of Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda

Major General Sampath Kotuwegoda is a proud product of the prestigious Wickramabahu Central College, Gampola and was enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army on 17 March 1986 under the Officer Cadet Intake SSC 11. Upon successful completion of his military training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and passed out as the fifth in order of merits. He opted to join the Sri Lanka Artillery and was subsequently posted to the 06th Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery on 21 February 1987.

During his illustrious military career, he held many Command, Staff and Instructional appointments. The Senior Officer has held the offices of Troop Commander, Gun Position Officer, Forward Observation Officer, Battery Captain and Battery Commander of the 6th, 7th and 10th Sri Lanka Artillery Regiments. He was fortunate to command the 11th Artillery Regiment and the 8th Medium Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery. Further, he was appointed as an Instructor of Gunnery at the School of Artillery in Minneriya after which, he was appointed as the Commandant of the School of Artillery Sri Lanka.

He held Grade I and Grade II General Staff Officer appointments at the Quarter Master General’s Branch, Directorate of Operations at Army Headquarters, 23 Divisional Headquarters and in Area Headquarters, Welioya. In addition, he was appointed as the Colonel of the Quarter Master General’s Branch, Director Army Quartering at the Army Headquarters, now named as the Directorate of Real Estate and Quartering, Director of Movement (Officiating) and Senior Military Adviser to the Ministry of Defence.

Major General Kotuwegoda has commanded 612 and 663 Infantry Brigades during the Humanitarian Operations and later, he was appointed as the General Officer Commanding of the 55 Division and subsequently held the Office of Commander Security Forces- Kilinochchi. Prior to his present appointment, Major General Kotuwegoda served as the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. Concurrently, he is the Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Artillery.

Major General Kotuwegoda has followed many local and foreign training courses in various fields, such as Platoon Commanders’ Course (Infantry Training Centre/ Combat Training School), Mid Career Course, Potential Unit Commanders’ Course (Maduru Oya), the Young Officers’ Course (India), Combat Air Assault Staff Operation Training with US Special Forces, Mid Career Course - Artillery (Pakistan), Officers’ Gunnery Staff Course (Bangladesh), Unit Commanders’ Course - Artillery (Pakistan), College of Security Studies Comprehensive Security Response to Terrorism Course at Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies (USA) and Disaster Management Workshop - Multinational Cooperation Programme in the Asia-Pacific 2012 (Japan). Further, he has earned Master of Science in Management from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and graduated from the National Defence College Philippines with Master of Arts in National Security Administration.