07th December 2024 06:24:42 Hours
Major General D.B.L Colonne USP, Overall Officer In-Charge of the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre, was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, on 06 December 2024, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army.
During the meeting, the Army Chief commended the Senior Officer for his service in various roles throughout his career, both during the war and in the post-war era. In response, Major General D.B.L Colonne USP expressed his profound gratitude for the steadfast guidance and support provided by the Army Chief. After the interaction, the Commander of the Army presented a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a symbol of appreciation and commendation.
Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:
Major General D.B.L Colonne USP enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet in Intake KDA-8 on 12 November 1990. Upon successful completion of military training at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy – Ratmalana and the Sri Lanka Military Academy – Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Engineers on 14 November 1992. After steadily elevating through the ranks, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 20 March 2024. The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 10 December 2024, upon reaching 55 years of age. At the time of his retirement, he was holding the appointment of Overall Officer In-Charge of the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre.
Throughout his career, he held various key appointments, including Troop Commander of the 5th Field Engineer Regiment of the Sri Lanka Engineers, Adjutant of the 6th Sri Lanka National Guard, Officer Commanding of 12 Squadron in the 1st Field Engineer Regiment of the Sri Lanka Engineers, Adjutant of the Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering, Officer Commanding of 82 Squadron of the 8th Field Engineer Regiment, Rear Headquarters in the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers at Panagoda, 11 Squadron in the 1st Field Engineer Regiment and the Headquarters Squadron in the 1st Field Engineer Regiment, Acting Second-in-Command of the 4th (Volunteer) Engineer Regiment of the Sri Lanka Engineers, Staff Officer 2 of the 4th (Volunteer) Engineer Regiment of the Sri Lanka Engineers, Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Battalion in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of Headquarters in Task Force 5, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of Headquarters in the 65 Infantry Division, Commanding Officer of the 10th Field Engineer Regiment and 4th (Volunteer) Engineer Regiment of the Sri Lanka Engineers, Senior Coordinator of the Sugathadasa National Sports Complex Authority, Head of the Non-Tech Division in the Army Research Analysis Projection & Development (RAP&D Br) Branch, Officiating Colonel (Coordinating) of the Army Research Analysis Projection & Development (RAP&D Br) Branch, Colonel Coordinating (Record & Planning Division) of the Army Research Analysis Projection & Development (RAP&D Br) Branch, Project Manager at the Defence Headquarters Complex (DHQC) Project, Additional Director of the Project Management Unit of the Defence Headquarters Complex (DHQC) Project, Commander of the 641 Infantry Brigade and Overall Officer In-Charge of Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre.
He was awarded the Uththama Seva Padakkama for his exceptional, distinguished, and loyal service.
Throughout his military career, the Senior Officer completed numerous local and foreign courses, including the Mine Action Management Course, General Information Technology Skills Course, Humanitarian Demining Course, International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights Instructor Training Course, United Nations Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CIMIC) Officers Course in Sri Lanka, Engineer Officers’ Basic Course in Bangladesh, Combined Officers Bomb Disposal Course in India, and Mine and Blasting Engineer Command Course in China.
In addition, the Senior Officer pursued higher education, earning a Bachelor of Science (Defence Studies) in Civil Engineering at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy and a National Trade Certificate in Computer Applications (Sri Lanka Computer Driving Licence) from the National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA).
