16th March 2023 20:49:56 Hours
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army lent his best wishes and compliments to one more Senior Officer, Major General U.P.R Weerakoon WWV RWP RSP VSV USP, General Officer Commanding of the 21 Infantry Division of the Security Force HQ-Wanni on Thursday (16) on the eve of his retirement from the Army upon completion of more than three decades of unblemished service.
The outgoing Senior Officer of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment at the invitation of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, together with his family members arrived at the Commander’s office.
During the meeting, Major General U.P.R Weerakoon WWV RWP RSP VSV USP who has served the Army for more than 34 years in an exemplary manner received appreciative compliments and words of commendation from the Army Chief who also spoke highly of his working capacity, commitment and dedication to the Army as a member of the Infantry family. The Army Chief refreshed memories of the retiree’s contribution and valuable roles during the height of the war against terrorism as an Infantry Officer of the highest calibre before May 2009.
The Army Chief while sharing a few pleasantries with his family members invited to the occasion also inquired into the retiring Senior Officer’s future endeavours and plans. The Commander of the Army simultaneously commended the invaluable support that has been given to the Senior Officer by his family members throughout his career particularly during challenging times while the retiring Senior Officer was engaged in operations elsewhere in the battleground to safeguard the motherland.
Towards the end of the interactions, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage awarded a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a symbol of appreciation and commendation along with a special gift to the family. The gesture was reciprocated by the retiring Senior Officer.
Major General U.P.R Weerakoon WWV RWP RSP VSV USP enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army on 06 October 1988 and underwent basic military training at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana and the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa in the Intake 32B before he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment (VIR). He was promoted to the rank of Major General on 02 August 2021.
He has been holding the office of the General Officer Commanding, 21 Infantry Division at the time of his retirement.
For his bravery and gallantry in the battlefield, he has been awarded the ‘Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya’, ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’, and ‘Rana Sura Padakkama‘. He also held the appointments of Platoon Commander, 5 VIR, Officer Commanding, 5 VIR, Deputy Sector Commander, 112 Infantry Brigade, Staff Officer 2, Quarter Master General's Branch, Army Headquarters, Second-in-Command, 5 VIR, United Nations Military Observer, United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Commanding Officer, 14 VIR, Sector Commander, 14 Infantry Division, General Staff Officer 1 (Coordinating), Headquarters, 58 Infantry Division, Colonel General Staff, Task Force 3, Chief of Staff, Regimental Centre Sri Lanka National Guard, Deputy Centre Commandant, Regimental Centre Sri Lanka National Guard, Officiating Commander, 242 Infantry Brigade, Assistant Military Liaison Officer, Ministry of Defence, Deputy Director, Directorate of Rehabilitation, Army Headquarters, Centre Commandant, Regimental Centre, Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps, Brigadier General Staff, Security Force Headquarters - East, and General Officer Commanding, 64 Infantry Division.
During his service period, he has followed many local and overseas courses including, Battalion Support Weapon Officers’ Course, Forward Observation Officers’ Course, Young Officers’ Course, Special Forces Instructors’ Course, Platoon Weapon Course, India, Young Officers’ Course, India, Junior Command Course, India, Senior Command Course, India, and 7th Peacekeeping Operations Contingent Commanders’ Course in Japan.
