9th September 2025
Major General H.T.W. Vidyananda RWP RSP USP, General Officer Commanding, 12 Infantry Division, was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, on 09 September 2025, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army after completing a distinguished military career spanning over 33 years.
Brief Profile of the Retiring Senior Officer:
Major General H.T.W. Vidyananda RWP RSP USP enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 09 December 1991 under Intake SC 3. 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 Gajaba Regiment on 19 December 1992. Rising through the ranks with dedication and professionalism, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 28 February 2025. The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 15 September 2025 upon reaching 55 years of age. At the time of his retirement, he was serving as the General Officer Commanding, 12 Infantry Division.
During his career, he served in many key appointments, including Platoon Commander, Intelligence Officer and Officer Commanding of the 3rd Battalion, the Gajaba Regiment, Troop Commander at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy, Officer Commanding of the 1st Battalion, the Gajaba Regiment, and Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Battalion under the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). He also served as Staff Officer 2 (Administration) at the Regimental Centre of the Gajaba Regiment, General Staff Officer 2 (Operations) of Task Force 1, and Second-in-Command of the 3rd Battalion, the Gajaba Regiment. His other responsibilities included serving as Training and Security Coordinator at the Jungle Training Base in Nelugala, Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion, the Gajaba Regiment, Sector Commander of Sector 04 in Colombo, Staff Officer 1 (Welfare Association Fund) at the Directorate of Welfare, Army Headquarters, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) at the 59 Infantry Division, and Staff Officer 1 at the Directorate of Media, Army Headquarters. In addition, he carried out duties as Colonel (Media), Officiating Commander of the 593 Infantry Brigade, Centre Commandant of the Regimental Centre, the Gajaba Regiment, Director and later Director General of the Directorate of Personnel Administration at Army Headquarters, Overall Security Coordinator at Army Headquarters, and finally as General Officer Commanding, 12 Infantry Division.
In recognition of his loyal and dedicated service, the Senior Officer was decorated with several medals, including the Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama and Utthama Seva Padakkama.
He successfully completed a number of local courses such as the Artillery Observation Course, Basic Intelligence Officers Course, Basic Parachute Course, Junior Command Course, and the United Nations Peacekeeping Pre-deployment Training Course. Overseas, he followed the Young Officers Tactical Course in Pakistan, the Junior Command Course and Senior Command Course in India, and the Staff and Tactics Grade III Course in Malaysia. He also participated in the Strategic Command Post Exercise “West - 2021” in Russia.
