Published on - 1/4/2005
Colonel W.M.S. Gunaratne, Commander 232 Brigade Kalkudah was the senior most Military Officer to die in the devastating tidal waves that dashed his 232 Brigade Headquarters in Kalkudah.\r\n\r\nColonel Gunaratne, enlisted to the Army on 11.08.1980 passed out as Second Lieutenant on 07.12.1982 after his initial training at the Army Training Center, Diyatalawa before he was posted to the 1st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment (SLSR). \r\n\r\nAt the time of his demise, Colonel Gunaratne was the Commanding Officer, 232 Brigade in Kalkudah. Before he took over this appointment on 18.10.2004, he served as the Army Recruiting Officer at Army Headquarters. After his promotion as Colonel, he was posted as the officiating Brigade Commander in 232 Brigade between 01.02.2002 – 15.06.2004.\r\n\r\nFrom October 2000 until 01st February 2002 he served as officiating Colonel General Staff (Col GS) in 23 Division Headquarters. He was also the Deputy Commandant at Army Training School (ATS) at Maduru Oya for a short period immediately after his service as Officiating Commandant at ATS nearly for one year.\r\n\r\nColonel Gunaratne, to his credit has held a number of appointments in the Army including General Staff Officer, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations), Officiating Commander 9 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and the Commanding Officer Training Wing at ATS.\r\n\r\nColonel Gunaratne, has followed several senior Command courses in India, Netherlands and Bangladesh. He also has followed the MOI course at Diyatalawa, Junior Leadership Course 42 in Pakistan and a few other courses. He leaves behind his wife and daughter who were also caught in the tidal waves. \r\n
