25th July 2025
Major General B.M.R.J Bandara, the Deputy Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, on 24 July 2025, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army after completing a distinguished military career spanning over 34 years.
Below is a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:
Major General B.M.R.J Bandara enlisted in the Volunteer Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet of Intake 12 (V) on 25 January 1990. 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 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on 05 August 1990.
He was elevated to subsequent ranks during the course of his service and was promoted to the rank of Major General on 08 October 2024. He will retire from the Volunteer Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 31 July 2025 upon reaching 57 years of age. At the time of his retirement, he was serving as the Deputy Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
During his extensive career, he held a wide array of key appointments, including Platoon Commander of the 2 (V) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, Group Commander and Transport Officer of the 2 Special Forces Regiment, and Support Commander of the Support Company of the 2 Special Forces Regiment. He also served as Officer Commanding of the Administration Company of both the 2 and 3 Special Forces Regiments. Additionally, he served as the Second-in-Command of the 21 Battalion of the Sri Lanka National Guard and later as the Commanding Officer of the 16 (V) Battalion of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.
He further served as the Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Training School, Chief Coordinator Civil Affairs of the Security Force Headquarters (Wanni), and Commandant of the same training school. He was also appointed as Director of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre – Kandakadu under the Bureau of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation. In addition, he held appointments such as Brigadier Coordinating Officer of the Security Force Headquarters (Jaffna), Brigadier (Administration) and Inspector of Training of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Headquarters and Deputy Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
He completed several local training programmes, including the Special Forces Training Course, Mechanical Technical Course, Unit Administration and Account Course, Basic Parachute Course, Defence Media and Communication Course, Senior Leader Development Course, Advanced Civil Affairs Course, and the Balance Style Course.
In terms of international exposure, he successfully completed the Young Officers Course, Commando Course, and Junior Command Course, all conducted in India.
With regard to academic achievements, he pursued an Advanced National Diploma in Human Resource Management from the National Institute of Business Management, a Postgraduate Diploma in Labour Relations and Human Resource Management from the University of Colombo, and a Diploma in English from the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka. He also completed a Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health via the Alison Online Education Platform. He obtained a Master’s in Labour Relations and Human Resource Management from the University of Colombo, a Postgraduate Diploma in Buddhist Ayurvedic Counselling from the University of Kelaniya, and a Master of Arts in Buddhist Ayurvedic Counselling from the same university.
