5th March 2026
Major General K.N.D. Karunapala RSP ndu, was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, on 04 March 2026, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army after a distinguished military career spanning over 36 years.
Brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:
Major General K.N.D. Karunapala RSP ndu, enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet to Intake 33 on 14 July 1989. 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 Sri Lanka Light Infantry on 15 June 1991. After steadily elevating through subsequent ranks during his service, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 30 September 2024. The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 06 March 2026 upon reaching 55 years of age.
Throughout his illustrious military career, the Senior Officer has held numerous key appointments. He has served as Platoon Commander, 8 Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Officer Commanding, 8 Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Staff Officer 3 (Logistics), Headquarters, 213 Infantry Brigade, Officer Commanding, 6 Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Staff Officer 2, Regimental Centre Sri Lanka National Guard, Officer Commanding, Sri Lanka Battalion, United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Second-in-Command, 12 Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry, General Staff Officer 1 (Operations), Headquarters, Task Force 6, Commanding Officer, 1 Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Overlooking Commander, 611 Infantry Brigade, Commanding Officer, 25 Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry.
He has also served as General Staff Officer 1, Directorate of Psychological Operations, Army Headquarters, General Staff Officer 1 (Coordinating), Security Force Headquarters (Kilinochchi), General Staff Officer 1 (Operations), Headquarters, Overall Operations Command (Colombo), Colonel (General Staff), Headquarters, 56 Infantry Division, Commander, 552 Infantry Brigade, Commander, 612 Infantry Brigade, Brigadier (General Staff), Security Force Headquarters (Jaffna), Director, Maintenance and Management, Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding, 56 Infantry Division and Colonel Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock.
In recognition of his dedicated and exemplary service, he was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama.
The Senior Officer has successfully completed a professional military course in Battalion Support Weapons Course. He has also attended a number of overseas courses, including the Young Officers Tactical Course in Pakistan, Mortar Course for Officers in India, Junior Command Course in India, Unit Command and Staff Course in Bangladesh and National Security and War Course in Pakistan.
In addition to his military qualifications, the Senior Officer has obtained a Diploma in Computer Hardware Engineering at Orient Academy, Sri Lanka, Diploma in Counselling conducted by Sri Lanka Foundation in 2011, Diploma in Hotel Management at Aquinas University College, Colombo, Professional Advanced Diploma in Human Resource Management Level II Conducted by European Institute of Professional Education (Private) Limited, Sri Lanka, Diploma in National Security Management and War Studies, National Defence University, Pakistan, Diploma in English Foundation Course at Sipway English Academy, Sri Lanka, Diploma Course on Human Rights at Institute of Human Rights, Sri Lanka and General Information Technology Skills Course at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy, Sri Lanka.
