Army Chief Commends Retiring Major General’s Renowned Service

Major General W.A.U.S. Wanasekara RWP USP, Deputy General Officer Commanding of 55 Infantry Division, was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, on 08 July 2025, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army after completing a distinguished military career spanning 33 years.

Below is a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:

Major General W.A.U.S. Wanasekara RWP USP enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet to the Intake KDA–09 on 17 November 1991. Upon successful completion of military training at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy in Ratmalana and the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Gajaba Regiment on 22 November 1993.

He was gradually elevated to successive ranks during his extensive military service and was promoted to the rank of Major General on 18 January 2025. The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 12 July 2025 upon reaching the age of 55. At the time of his retirement, he was serving as the Deputy General Officer Commanding 55 Infantry Division.

During his distinguished career, Major General W.A.U.S. Wanasekara RWP USP held a wide array of key appointments. These included Platoon Commander, Intelligence Officer, Adjutant, Officer Commanding, Acting Second-in-Command and Officiating Commanding Officer of the 10th Battalion the Gajaba Regiment. He also served as General Staff Officer 3 (Operations) of 112 Infantry Brigade, Brigade Major of 572 Infantry Brigade, and Second-in-Command of the Senior Security Coordinating Office at Army Headquarters.

He further held appointments as Chief Instructor of the Non-Commissioned Officers’ Training School, Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Battalion under the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), General Staff Officer 2 and Officiating General Staff Officer 1 of the General Staff Branch at the Army Headquarters. He also served as the Officiating Commanding Officer of the 27th Battalion the Gajaba Regiment, Senior Coordinating Officer of the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, and General Staff Officer 1 (Coordinating) of the Headquarters - 55 Infantry Division.

In addition, he served as Colonel (Sports) of the Directorate of Sports at Army Headquarters, Commander of the 652 Infantry Brigade, Centre Commandant of the Regimental Centre - Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps, and Deputy General Officer Commanding of the 55 Infantry Division.

In appreciation of his dedicated and courageous service, Major General W.A.U.S. Wanasekara RWP USP has been awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) and the Uththama Seva Padakkama (USP).

He has completed several local training programmes including the Artillery Observation Course, Battalion Support Weapons Officers’ Course, Company Commanders’ Course and Officers’ Par Excellence Course.

He has also undergone international training which includes the Young Officers’ Tactical Course in Pakistan, the Junior Command Course in India, and the Military Induction Training Course in Haiti.

In terms of academic achievements, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Defence Studies from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy.