19th March 2022 08:47:10 Hours
Major General Priyantha Gamage, Quarter Master General of the Army, having completed 34 years of unblemished service as an infantryman of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) on the verge of his retirement was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, together with his family members on Wednesday (16).
During his final call-on, General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army commended his dedicated and committed roles in various capacities and spoke highly of his loyalty to the organization and also his integrity.
“You are a very genuine officer whom I have identified very closely and that made you to reach the rank of a Major General which is a difficult path. Your exemplary contribution and hard work as an infantryman made you to the office of Quarter Master General. You are going out as a proud Major General groomed by the Army and its dignity would not at all waver or be tarnished. Keep up the good spirits and devote more for your two children because it was your late spouse who moulded them to be what they are today while you were in the battlefield fighting for defence of the country. She deserves all the praise and our appreciation for her untiring role while she was alive,” General Shavendra Silva remarked.
“It is also worthwhile to mention here that you as an infantryman escaped without any injury in the battlefield and are still surviving while most of those injured are now in the majority. With two gallantry medals, you came along a difficult and challenging path until you reach this military rank. Only a few of your batch-mates could survive up to that rank without being able to go up in the military ladder,” the Army Chief elaborated.
Extending best wishes to both children, accompanying Major General Priyantha Gamage, General Shavendra Silva inquired into their future plans. “In future too, if you all need any assistance whatsoever, I am there to help you all without any hesitation,” he said.
The outgoing Senior Officer, Major General Priyantha Gamage wholeheartedly thanked the Commander of the Army for his continued support, encouragement and unfailing guidance given to him throughout his career. “Sir, you all the time stood by us in a way beyond our imagination and guided us both in the battlefield and elsewhere, particularly when we were working closely with the 53 Division. Your fatherly advice and support given to us during our bereavement in the family helped and relieved us in an enormous manner. You feel the pulse of the soldier and do everything possible to inspire them and boost their morale,” the retiring Senior Officer remarked.
Towards the end of the interaction, General Shavendra Silva awarded a special memento to the outgoing Major General Priyantha Gamage as a symbol of appreciation and commendation, along with a special gift to the family.
Here follows the brief profile of Major General Priyantha Gamage:
Major General Gamage during his distinguished career held the office of the Commander, 241 Brigade, 532 Brigade Commander, Brigadier General Staff at the Security Force HQ - Jaffna, Director, Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at the Army Headquarters, Director General General Staff at the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Chief of Staff at Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, and finally as the Quarter Master General at the Army headquarters.
He followed the Young Officers' Course in Pakistan, Junior Command Course in India, Potential Observer Course in Bangladesh, Parachute Course in India, Unit Commanders Course in Bangladesh, National Defence Course in Bangladesh, Multi-National Cooperation Programme for South Asia in Japan and a few more.
A brief profile is as follows:
Predeep Joe Priyantha Gamage enlisted to the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 16 March 1987. Upon successful completion of military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy - Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Light Infantry on 10 December 1988. After elevation to subsequent ranks in the course of the span of service in the Army. he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 03 August 2020. On reaching 55 years of age, he is scheduled to retire on 24 March 2022.
Major General Priyantha Gamage is an extremely trustworthy, loyal and disciplined Senior Officer, who has been performing his responsibilities beyond expectations in order to ensure the highest professional standards of the organisation. The following appointments have also been held by the retiring Senior Officer during his tenure:
Officer Commanding. Rifle Company, 14 Sri Lanka Light Infantry Staff Officer 3, APEC. Panagoda General Staff Officer Grade 3 (Operations), Task Force 1 General Staff Officer Grade 2 (Coordinating), Security Force Headquarters -Jaffna, Officer Commanding, Administration Company, Regimental Centre, Sri Lanka Light Infantry Second in Command, 6th Sri Lanka Light Infantry, General Staff Officer Grade 1 (Coordinating), Headquarters 11 Division Officiating General Staff Officer Grade 1 (Coordinating), Headquarters 23 Division ,Officiating General Staff Officer Grade 1 (Operations), Headquarters Task Force 3. Commanding Officer, 15th Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Commanding Officer, 20th Sri Lanka Light Infantry and the office of the Officiating Colonel General Staff at 56 Division Headquarters.
He also held the offices of the Commander, 631 Brigade, Commander, 241 Brigade, Commander, 532 Brigade, Commander, 532 Brigade, Brigadier (General Staff), Security Force Headquarters -Jaffna, Director, Directorate of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law at the Army Headquarters, Director General, General Staff Branch at the Army Headquarters. The Senior Officer has been awarded undermentioned medals in appreciation of his dedicated service, rendered during his tenure in the Sri Lanka Army:
Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) (twice), Desha Putra Padakkama, East Humanitarian Operation Medal and Clasp, North Humanitarian Operation Medal and Clasp, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal, 50th Independence Day Anniversary Commemoration Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal and Sevabimani Padakkama and the Seva Padakkama.
The Senior Officer has successfully followed undermentioned overseas courses:
Young Officers' Course - Pakistan, Unit Command and Staff Course in Bangladesh, Junior Command Course - India, Potential Observer Course in Bangladesh, Parachute Basic Course - India, Unit Commander Course - Bangladesh, National Defence Course - Bangladesh, Certificate Course in Diplomacy and International at Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute.
