15th November 2023 10:20:48 Hours
Major General R Elvitigala USP, Director General of Centre for Defence Research and Development at the Ministry of Defence, prior to his retirement from the Army after a landmark career of 34 years was invited this afternoon (14 Nov) to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, together with his family members.
The Commander of the Army during interactions with the retiring Senior Officer, commended him for his untiring commitments, filled with cherished memories and noteworthy achievements. The Commander of the Army also spoke high of his skills and efforts he made to improve different technical aspects and peripheral practical needs of the organization as a Signal Officer.
Major General R Elvitigala USP in return thanked the Army Commander for the cordial invitation and expressed his gratitude for the guidance the Commander has extended to him in the performance of his varied duties in the Army.
The Army Chief while sharing a few pleasantries with his family members invited to the occasion, also queried the retiring Senior Officer’s future undertakings and plans. The Army Chief simultaneously appreciated the invaluable support that has been given to the Senior Officer by his family members throughout his career.
Towards the end of the interactions, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage awarded a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a symbol of appreciation and commendation, along with a special gift to the family. The gesture was reciprocated by the retiring Senior Officer.
Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer;
Major General R Elvitigala USP enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 20 January 1989 and underwent basic military training in the Sri Lanka Military Academy - Diyatalawa and Indian Military Academy (IMA) in the Intake 31A. He was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Signal Corps (SLSC) on 05 April 1991. 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 10 October 2023.
He has been holding the office of Director General of Centre for Defence Research and Development at the Ministry of Defence at the time of his retirement. He also held the appointments of Troop Commander of 1 SLSC, Training Officer of School of Signals, Platoon Commander of Internal Security Platoon at 1 SLSC, Officer Commanding of O Troop at 1 SLSC, Officer Instructor of Officer Cadet Wing at Sri Lanka Military Academy, Adjutant of 1 SLSC, Officer Commanding of Electronic Warfare Squadron at Army Headquarters, Second-in-Command of Sri Lanka Army Contingent in United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Officiating General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of Joint Operations Headquarters, Commanding Officer of 1 SLSC and 7 SLSC, Commandant of School of Signals, General Staff Officer 1 (Electronic Warfare) of Office of the Chief Signal Officer at Army Headquarters, Overlooking General Staff Officer 1 (Communication) of Office of the Chief Signal Officer at Army Headquarters, Officiating Colonel (Coordinating) of Office of the Chief Signal Officer at Army Headquarters, Officiating Chief Coordinator of Office of the Chief Signal Officer at Army Headquarters, Overlooking Chief Coordinator (Projects) of Radio and Electronic Wing at Centre for Research Development, Ministry of Defence, Chief Coordinator of Centre for Research Development at Ministry of Defence, Colonel (General Staff) of Security Force Headquarters - Mullaitivu, Commander of 233 Infantry Brigade and Director of Border Risk Assessment Centre (BRAC) and Ministry of Defence.
He has followed many local and foreign courses during his military career, such as Platoon Commanders’ Tactics Course, Motor Transport Officers’ Course, Basic Marksmanship Course, Unit Accounting Officers Course, Basic Intelligence Course, Unit Administration Course, Unit Security Course, Junior Command Course, Senior Command Course, Signal Young Officers’ Course - India and Mid-Career Course - Pakistan.
The Senior Officer has also followed a number of higher educational and non-military courses, such as Technical Course on Modern Electronic Components at the Arthur C Clarke Institute for Modern Technologies and Diploma in Counselling at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute.
