28th May 2020 21:47:47 Hours
Two of those just promoted Majors General, I.H.M.N Nishantha Herath RWP RSP psc and T.D Weerakoon RWP RSP USP, elevated from the rank of Brigadier this morning (27) had the rare privilege of receiving their new rank insignia from none other than their chief, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army during an audience two of them have had at the Commander’s office at the Army Headquarters in Sri Jayawardenepura. On the recommendations of the Commander of the Army, five senior most Brigadiers of the Army were promoted by HE the President with effect from 22 May 2020. (See separate story).
During the meet, the Army Chief congratulated both of them on their deserving elevation and pinned their new insignia on the epaulettes, indeed an act that would carry undying memories.
Major General I.H.M.N Nishantha Herath, currently the Director General Training at the Army Headquarters as one of the most dedicated Officers in the Army with high degree of professional integrity is one among War Heroes who underwent amputation, having sustained serious injuries in the battlefield while fighting against the division of the country in 1990. Regardless of his disability, this Senior Officer as the Commander of the 5 Field Engineer Regiment during high intensity Humanitarian operations in the Wanni theater, threw his troops’ full weight behind all the formations while constructing supply routes needed for operations that connected from the West to the East of Sri Lanka, including particularly the 58 Division which captured the most land area, heavily infested with LTTE’s Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and ditch cum bunds.
He has also served as the General Staff Officer-1 in the Overall Colombo Security Headquarters during the period of LTTE suicide attacks and air strikes in 2006, 621 Infantry Brigade Commander (over 2 years), Colonel General Staff at Directorate of Operations, and several other key appointments. Having passed the Army Command and Staff College Course as a disabled Officer, he became the Chief instructor at School of Military Engineering, Adjutant Kotelawala Defence University, Directing Staff member in the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Deputy Ex Director- Ex Cormorant, the Army’s Multinational Exercise and the Centre Commandant of the Corps of Engineers. To his credit, he has successfully read for two Masters, one in Defence Studies from university of Kelaniya and the other in National Security Affairs from the US. After he served as Brigadier (Training) at ARTRAC (09-04-2018 to 12-11-2019), he took over as the Director Training at AHQ from 13 November 2019.
Major General T.D Weerakoon of the Sri Lanka Artillery (SLA) was enlisted to the Army on 2 June 1986 and received his commissions in January 1987. He has also served as the Military observer for the United Nations Mission in Burundi (2005-2006). During the peak of humanitarian operations between 2007-2009, he led his troops as the Commanding Officer of the 6 SLA and the officiating Brigade Commander, 233 Brigade (2009-2011). He also participated in the 20th South Asia Teaching session on International Humanitarian Law (27.04.2012 – 04.05.2012). To his credit, he had also followed the senior Command Course in India (23.03.2013 -10.06.2013) and served as the 622 Brigade Commander (2014-2016).
He was also the Minister Counsellor (Defence) to the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing (2016-2018). Afterwards, he served as the 523 Brigade Commander (2018-2019) and Brigadier General Staff at SFHQ-MLT (2019-2020) before he was appointed as the Director Assets Management in early 2020, an office he is still holding.
Due to his bravery and valour, he was awarded Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) and the Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) that recognizes the highest standards of dedicated service and military discipline.buy footwear | adidas poccnr jumper dress pants size
