20th January 2026
Major General J.D Samarasekara RSP USP ndc psc, the Deputy General Officer Commanding of Headquarters, 11 Infantry Division, was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, on 20 January 2026, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army following a distinguished military career spanning over 33 years.
Brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:
Major General J.D Samarasekara RSP USP ndc psc enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet to Intake 38 on 24 July 1992. 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 Commando Regiment on 09 April 1994. After being steadily elevated to subsequent ranks in the course of the span of service in the Army, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 31 July 2025. The Senior Officer retires from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 26 January 2026 on reaching 55 years of age. At the time of retirement, he holds the appointment of Deputy General Officer Commanding, Headquarters, 11 Infantry Division.
Throughout his illustrious military career, the Senior Officer held numerous key appointments. He served as the Team Commander (Charlie Group) of 1 Commando Regiment, Team Commander (Bravo Group) of 1 Commando Regiment, Team Commander (Alpha Group) of 1 Commando Regiment, Team Commander of Anti-Hijack and Hostage Release (AH & HR) Group, 4 Commando Regiment of Bandaranaike International Airport – Colombo, Intelligence Officer of 1 Commando Regiment, Team Commander (Bravo Group)of 1 Commando Regiment, Instructor of Commando Regiment Training School, Team Commander (Operational Duties) of Commando Regiment Training School, Instructor of Commando Regiment Training School, Officer Commanding (Delta Group) of 1 Commando Regiment, Staff Officer 2 (Administration) of Regimental Centre, Commando Regiment, General Staff Officer 2 (Operations) of Headquarters - 56 Infantry Division, Officer Commanding of Training Wing, Commando Regiment Training School, Officer Commanding of Parachute Training Wing, Commando Regiment Training School, Operations and Training Officer of 5 Commando Regiment, Assistant Personal Security Officer to General J Jayasuriya (Retd) RWP VSV USP ndu psc; then Commander of the Army, Second-in-Command of 2 Commando Regiment, Shift Chief of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) - Joint Operation Centre, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of Security Force Headquarters (East), General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of Headquarters, 11 Infantry Division, General Staff Officer 1 (Coordinating) of Headquarters, 11 Infantry Division, Personal Security Officer to General R.M.D Ratnayake (Retd) WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndu psc; then Commander of the Army and General A.W.J.C de Silva (Retd) RWP VSV USP ndu psc; then Commander of the Army, Commanding Officer of 3 Commando Regiment.
He also served as General Staff Officer 1 (Operations & Training) of Regimental Centre, Commando Regiment, Overlooking Deputy Commandant of Regimental Centre, Commando Regiment, Chief Instructor of Parachute Training Wing, Commando Regiment Training School, Colonel (General Staff) of Directorate of Operations, Army Headquarters, Commandant of Commando Regiment Training School, Commanderof 583 Infantry Brigade, Deputy Commandant of Sri Lanka Military Academy, Overlooking Commandant of Sri Lanka Military Academy, Director General Operations of Army Headquarters, Deputy General Officer Commanding of Headquarters, 11 Infantry Division and Overlooking General Officer Commanding, Headquarters, 11 Infantry Division.
In recognition of his dedicated and exemplary service, he was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama and Uththama Seva Padakkama.
The Senior Officer successfully completed several professional military courses. These included Basic Commando Course, Advance Commando Course, Battalion Support Weapons Officers’ Course, Unit Intelligence and Security Course, Sky Diving Course, The Law of Armed Conflict Course, Jump Master Training Course, Junior Staff Course, Psychological Operations Training Course, Army Command and Staff Course, Potential Observers and Staff Officers Course and National Security and Strategic Studies Course.
He also attended a number of overseas courses. These included Ghatak Course - India, Young Officers Infantry Course - Bangladesh, Basic Airborne Course – India, Counter Insurgency Jungle Warfare Course - India, Junior Command Course - India, Jump Master and Airborne Operations Course - Pakistan and Senior Command Course - India.
In addition to his military qualifications, the Senior Officer obtained Diploma in Senior Level Defence Management at the Devi Ahilya University, India and Master of Science in National Security and Strategic Studies at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
