Retiring Deputy Chief of Staff’s Service Praised

Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army took time off on Friday (01 Dec) afternoon to extend his best wishes to retiring one more distinguished Senior Officer of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR), Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardena RWP RSP ndu, Overlooking Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and Colonel of the Regiment SLSR on the eve of the latter's retirement from the Army.

Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardena RWP RSP ndu, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army after an eventful service of more than three decades, was invited by Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army to his office, together with his family members, just a few days before his retirement from the service.

Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardena RWP RSP ndu, who has served the Army for more than 34 years in an exemplary manner during the meeting, received appreciative compliments and words of commendation from the Army Chief, who also spoke high of his working capacity, commitment and dedication to the Army as a member of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. The Army Chief refreshed memories of the retiree’s contribution and valuable roles during the height of the war against terrorism as an Infantry Officer of the highest calibre before May 2009.

The Army Chief while sharing a few pleasantries with the retiring Major General and his family members and also inquired about the retiring Senior Officer's future endeavours and wished him good luck. He also did not fail to heap praise on the support that his family members have given him during his career while he had to be away from home on duty requirements.

Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardena RWP RSP ndu also in turn thanked the Commander of the Army for his warm wishes and guidance while mentioning the encouragement he received 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 special gifts to family members present at the office. The gesture was reciprocated by the Senior Officer. Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer;

Major General G.R.R.P Jayawardena RWP RSP ndu was enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 22 February 1988. Upon successful completion of military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy - Diyatalawa, in Intake 29, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR) on 16 December 1989. 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 04 February 2021.

He has been holding the offices of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army, Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. In addition, he was the Overlooking Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He also held the appointments of Platoon Commander, Intelligence Officer, Adjutant, Officer Commanding and Acting Second-In-Command of 4 SLSR, Staff Officer 2 of Directorate of Welfare at Army Headquarters, Brigade Major of 553 Infantry Brigade, Instructor of Institute of Peace Support Operations Training - Sri Lanka, General Staff Officer 2 of Operations Command Colombo, Second-In-Command of 6 SLSR, Company Commander of Army Commander's Security Coordinating Unit, Commanding Officer of 8 SLSR, Sector Commander of Operations Command Colombo, Staff Officer 1 (Administration) of Colombo Army Hospital, Housing Project Officer of Urban Development Authority, Contingent Commander of Sri Lanka Force Protection Company (SLFPC) in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Colonel General Staff of Defence Services Command and Staff College, Officiating Commander of 542 Infantry Brigade, Commander of 661 Infantry Brigade, Overall Officer In-Charge of the Nelum Pokuna Theatre, Director of Directorate of Assets Management at Army Headquarters, Commandant of Infantry Training Centre, General Officer Commanding of 57 Infantry Division, Commander, Security Forces – East, Colonel of the Regiment of Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and Quarter Master General of the Army.

For his bravery and gallantry in the battlefields, he has been awarded with ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ and ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’.

He has followed many local and foreign courses during his military career, such as Young Officers’ Course, Battalion Intelligence Course, Basic Computer Course, Officers Mid-Career Unit Administration Course, Psychological Operations Course, Potential Observer and Staff Officers Course, United Nations Peacekeeping Instructors Course Army Command and Staff Course, Young Officers’ Infantry Course - Pakistan, Mortar (Officers) Course - India, Mid-Career Course - Pakistan, Small Arms Proliferation Course - Thailand, Directors of Course and Trainers in International Humanitarian Law Course - Italy, National Security and War Course - Pakistan and Army Battalion Commanders Course - China.

The Senior Officer has also followed a number of higher educational and non-military courses, such as Diploma in Professional Diplomacy and World Affairs at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, Diploma in Conflict Resolution: Skills Development at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies, Executive Diploma in Human Resource Management at Institute of Human Resource Advancement, University of Colombo, Masters of Human Resource Management at the University of Colombo, Masters of Science in Security and Strategic Studies at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and Masters of Science National Security and War Course at National Defence University in Pakistan.