04th November 2021 12:00:50 Hours
Major General Sisira Pilapitiya, Commander, Security Forces – Mullaittivu on the verge of his retirement from the Army after an unblemished service of more than 34 years in the Army was invited to the office of General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, together with his family on Monday (1) at the Army Headquarters.
General Shavendra Silva commending the outgoing Major General Sisira Pilapitiya’s service as an outstanding infantryman of the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment who has valiantly contributed to almost all military operations against terrorists recalled landmark memories in the battlefield when humanitarian operations were underway in the North before May 2009 and also spoke highly of his commitment to the 573 Brigade and the Air Mobile Brigade at that period.
Making one of the firsts, General Shavendra Silva made it a point to invite the spouse, Mrs Avanthi Pilapitiya, together with their daughter, Ranshika and the son, Chirath with the intention of symbolically appreciating the untiring and dedicated sacrifices of home-based spouses while their husbands were elsewhere, engaged in defending the territorial integrity against ruthless terrorists without having a wink of sleep for days.
“You with broad understanding created a sound mindset to your husband, conducive to commit to a noble cause as a true patriotic son of the soil without heaping any domestic burdens on him whatsoever. Simultaneously, you lonely shouldered the whole responsibility of nurturing children with love and care. Had it not been the case, our warriors would not have won the day and brought peace to our motherland after May 2009. I wanted your family be present here today in order for me to symbolically express that invaluable appreciation on behalf of all mothers and spouses in the Army who silently bore up those critical challenges and gave their maximum inspirational support to our warriors,” General Shavendra Silva commented.
Extending his best wishes and greetings for his future endeavours, General Shavendra Silva towards the end of the interaction awarded a replica of a symbolic sword to him as a souvenir and a special certificate of appreciation. The gesture was reciprocated.
At the same time, General Shavendra Silva presented a symbolic gift parcel to Mrs Avanthi Pilapitiya in recognition of her dedication and commitment while her spouse was away, defending the motherland.
Major General Sisira Pilapitiya who is also the Colonel of the Regiment, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, prior to his appointment as the Commander, Security Forces - Mullaittivu held the offices of the General Officer Commanding, 55 Division, Director, Directorate of Personnel Administration, Commandant, Army Training School Maduru Oya, Overall Senior Security Coordinating Officer at Army HQ, 513 Brigade Commander, Air Mobile Brigade Commander, Colonel Military Secretary, Commanding Officer, 10th UN Peacekeeping Contingent in Haiti, 573 Brigade Commander and several other key appointments in the Army.
He was awarded Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) and Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) in recognition of his valour, commitment and distinguished military service.
Having joined the Sri Lanka Army Regular Force as a Cadet Officer in the Intake 27 on 4th August 1986, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant to be posted to the 1st Battalion of the VIR. He also had the distinction of holding the appointment of Commanding Officer of 1 Battalion VIR and 6 Battalion VIR before he was appointed the Centre Commandant at VIR Regimental Centre, Boyagane.
