12th December 2020 16:00:32 Hours
Major General Jagath Gunawardena, Chief of Staff of the Army and Colonel Commandant of the Corps Engineers (SLE) on the eve of his retirement from the Army after a record professional military career of more than 35 years of integrity, dedication and committed leadership made his final courtesy call on Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army on Thursday (10).
Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva during the interaction expressed his deep sense of gratitude while extending his warm best wishes for his future undertakings and spoke high of his integrity, dedication and commitment throughout, particularly when the country's own existence was at risk. Symbolic of warm ties, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva awarded him exceptionally-produced several gifts as mementos on the same occasion in a touching gesture of friendship. Towards the end of the interaction, the retiring Senior Officer also thanked the Commander of the Army for all the support and comradeship he extended during his military career.Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer.
Major General Jagath Gunawardena, an old boy of D. S Senanayake College enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army Regular Force on 18 January 1985 and was commissioned to the Corps of Engineers on 31 May 1986. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) War Studies from University of Baluchistan, Pakistan, Master in Defence Studies from University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, Master of Arts with Merit in Conflict Resolution from University of Bradford, United Kingdom, Post Graduate Diploma with Merit in Conflict Resolution and Peace Preparedness, University of Bradford, United Kingdom, Diploma in Human Rights from Institute of Human Rights, Colombo, and Diploma in Senior Level Defence Management from University of Indore, India. He is a graduate of the University of Philippines and holds the degree of Masters in National Security Administration. Major General Jagath Gunawardena is also a graduate at Army Command and Staff College, Sri Lanka and Command and Staff College, Quetta, Pakistan.
He was the recipient of the ‘Commandant's Golden Pen’ award for best research paper at the Army Command and Staff College in the year 1999. He has attended the Senior Command Course at Army War College, Mhow, India and National Defence College in the Philippines. His foreign military education on engineering includes Young Officers Course at College of Military Engineering, Pune, India, Mid Career Course and Bomb Disposal Course at Military College of Engineering, Risalpur, Pakistan.
His staff appointments include Grade-III (Operations) in a Divisional HQ, Grade-II Staff Officer at Military Hospital Colombo, Adjutant and Staff Officer at Sri Lanka Military Academy, Grade-I Staff Officer (Operations) in Reserve Strike Force (53 Division) of the Sri Lanka Army, Grade-I Staff Officer (Training) at the Army Headquarters, and Colonel General Staff in the 56 Division. He has also held the appointments of Deputy Military Liaison Officer, Ministry of Defence and Director Plans at the Army Headquarters.
He has served in many command appointments, including Officer Commanding Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Unit of the Sri Lanka Army, Commanding Officer of the 8 Field Engineer Regiment (Infantry Role), 6 Field Engineer Regiment (Combat Engineer Role), Commander 524 Infantry Brigade (Point Pedro), Centre Commandant Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers for three years and Commander Engineer Brigade. He was the General Officer Commanding of the 57 Infantry Division, Principal Staff Officers' appointments to the Commander of the Army, Master General Ordnance at the Army Headquarters and Colonel Commandant Corps of Engineer Service, Commander Security Forces Headquarters -Wanni and the 41st Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. He was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army on 01 June 2020 and the Colonel Commandant Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers on 23 July 2019.
During his career, he has served as an Officer Instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Directing Staff at the Army Command and Staff College and Defence Services Command and Staff College, and held the appointment of Head of the Training Team, Army Wing at the Defence Services Command and Staff College.
He is a keen sportsman and has represented the Sri Lanka Army in Rugby, Football and Hockey. He was the Chairman of Army Swimming and Water-Polo Committee, Vice Chairman of Sri Lanka Army Football Committee and chairman of the Army Squash Committee. Presently, he holds the appointment of chairman Army Rugby Committee and the Chairman of Army Sports Board. He has been decorated with gallantry award of Rana Sura Paddakkama (RSP) and Vishishta Seva Vibhishanaya and Uttama Seva Padakkama for his distinguished and unblemished service. In addition to that, he has been awarded over 10 service medals in recognition of his service. He is married to Sagara and blessed with three daughters Naduni, Saduni and Kasuni. affiliate tracking url | Zapatillas de running Nike - Mujer
