Commander of the Army Praises Renowned Service of Retiring Senior Officer

Major General S.A Kulatunge RWP RSP VSV USP psc, Commander, Security Forces (East) and Colonel Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock was invited to the Office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, on 04 December 2024, along with his family members, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army after a distinguished 35-year service.

During the meeting, the Army Chief commended the Senior Officer for his unwavering dedication and exemplary performance in various challenging roles throughout his service, both during the war against terrorism and in the post-war period.

The Commander also acknowledged the pivotal support provided by his family throughout his career.

In response, Major General S.A Kulatunge RWP RSP VSV USP psc expressed his profound gratitude for the steadfast guidance and support offered by the Army Chief.

Towards the end of the meeting, the Commander of the Army presented a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a token of appreciation along with gifts for his family.

Here is a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:

Major General S.A Kulatunge RWP RSP VSV USP psc enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army to the Intake 32 as an Officer Cadet on 20 January 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 Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers on 19 January 1991. 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 02 August 2022. The Senior Officer is to retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 08 December 2024 on reaching 55 years of age. At the time of his retirement, he was holding the appointments of Commander, Security Forces (East) and Colonel Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock.

Throughout his career, he held various key appointments, including Troop Commander of 1st Field Engineer Regiment the Sri Lanka Engineers, Officer Instructor of Sri Lanka Military Academy, Officer Commanding of 1st Field Engineer Regiment the Sri Lanka Engineers, Staff Officer 2 (Administration) of Headquarters in 211 Infantry Brigade, General Staff Officer 3 of Headquarters in Engineer Brigade, Officer Commanding of 1 and 9 Field Engineer Regiment the Sri Lanka Engineers, Brigade Major of Headquarters in 514 Infantry Brigade, Chief Instructor of Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering, Senior Staff Duty Officer of U3 in United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of Directorate of Operations in Army Headquarters, Commanding Officer of 1st Field Engineer Regiment the Sri Lanka Engineers, Officiating Chief Instructor of Training Wing in Sri Lanka Military Academy, Commanding Officer of 1st Field Engineer Regiment the Sri Lanka Engineers, Staff Officer 1 of Military Secretary’s Branch in Army Headquarters, Colonel Military Secretary (Additional) of Military Secretary’s Branch in Army Headquarters, Colonel Military Secretary of Military Secretary’s Branch in Army Headquarters, Colonel (General Staff) of Headquarters 22 Infantry Division, Officiating Commander of 232 Infantry Brigade, Commander of 522 Infantry Brigade, Minister Counsellor (Defence) to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad in Pakistan, Director of Directorate of Plans in Army Headquarters, Director of Directorate of Research Concept & Doctrine in Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding of 23 Infantry Division, Commander of Engineer Division, Chief Field Engineer of Army Headquarters, Commander of Security Forces (East), Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Corps of Agriculture and Livestock.

The Senior Officer has been also awarded Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama in recognition of his bravery on the battlefield and Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya and Uttama Seva Padakkama for his exceptional, distinguished and loyal service.

He also completed numerous local and foreign training courses during his military career, including Basic Marksmanship Course, Bomb Disposal Course, Army Command and Staff Course, Mine Action Management and Basic Demining Course, Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Course in Sri Lanka and Young Officers’ Basic Course (Engineers) in Bangladesh, Engineer Officers Combat Engineering Instructors Course in India, Air Maintenance Course in India and United Nations Peacekeeping Operations Instructors Course in Mongolia.

In addition, the Senior Officer pursued higher education earning a Diploma in International Security and Combating Terrorism at the College of International Security Affairs at National Defence University in the United States of America, Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies at the National Defence University in the United States of America, and Master of Defence Studies at the University of Kelaniya.