Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo Assumes Duties as the 25th Commander of the Army

Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP psc IG of the Sri Lanka Artillery assumed duties as the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army on Tuesday (31) during a formal ceremony conducted at Army Headquarters.

Upon his arrival at Army Headquarters, he was accorded a Guard Turnout presented by Sri Lanka Artillery troops. Brigadier D.K.R Perera, Commander of the Headquarters Brigade, formally received him at the entrance.

Major General K.A.W.N.H Bandaranayake USP, Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army, warmly welcomed the new Commander and then ushered him to the saluting dais at the parade ground, where he reviewed the Guard of Honour. The event concluded with the newly appointed Army Chief posing for group photographs with distinguished guests.

Following this, the Commander offered flowers to the Buddha statue at the entrance of the Commander’s Office as a mark of reverence. Subsequently, a traditional ‘Deheth Wattiya’ (tray of betel) was presented to Dr. Kirinde Assaji Nayaka Thero, Viharadhikari of the Gangaramaya Temple, and members of the Maha Sangha to commence religious blessings.

As the chanting of ‘Seth Pirith’ resonated, the new Commander, in the presence of his spouse, Mrs Swendrini Rodrigo, and family members, signed the formal document signifying his acceptance of the office as Commander of the Army.

Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo then received blessings from multi-religious clergy. The brief ceremony concluded with the offering of ‘Pirikara’ and gifts to members of the Maha Sangha and clergy representing Catholic, Hindu, and Islamic faiths.

The ceremony concluded with a customary tea party at the multifunctional hall. The newly appointed Commander of the Army later addressed the troops, sharing his vision and thoughts for the future.

Below is a brief profile of the new Commander of the Army:

Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP psc IG of the Sri Lanka Artillery has been appointed as the 25th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 31 December 2024. His Excellency the President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, in his capacity as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, made this appointment following Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo's elevation to his current rank on the same date.

Prior to his new appointment, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army.

Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo is a proud product of St. Benedict’s College, Colombo, and excelled in both academics and extracurricular activities. He was a vibrant sportsman and a college prefect for three consecutive years. He held the captaincy of the school cricket, basketball, and rugby teams, and he was also a member of the school athletic team.

Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo joined the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 20 January 1989 under Regular Intake - 31 (IMA). He underwent basic military training at the prestigious Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, and subsequently at the Indian Military Academy. Upon successfully completing his Officer Cadet training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Artillery.

Over a distinguished military career spanning 36 years, he has held several significant command, staff, and instructional appointments. These include Officer Instructor at the Army Training School - Madhuru Oya, General Staff Officer II (Intelligence/Security) at the Directorate of Operations, General Staff Officer II (Operations) at the Headquarters of the 53 Infantry Division, General Staff Officer I (Operations) at the Headquarters of the 22 Infantry Division, and Commanding Officer of the 18th Field Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery (RFT) during the Humanitarian Operations at Thoppigala and Mannar, where resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) occurred after the conflict.

He also served as the Head of the Training Team at the Officers' Study Centre (OSC) - Sri Lanka Military Academy, Chief Instructor of the OSC, Directing Staff at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, and Head of the Training Team (HOTT) at the same institution.

In addition, he commanded the 663 and 661 Infantry Brigades in Pooneryn, contributing to nation-building, reconstruction, and reconciliation efforts in 2018 and 2019. He held roles such as Director of Overseas Operations at Army Headquarters, General Officer Commanding of the 66 Infantry Division in Pooneryn, and played a pivotal role in reconciliation, reconstruction and maintaining law and order.

Subsequently, he served as the Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Commander of Security Forces - Central, Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Artillery, Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army.

Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo broadened his expertise through extensive training and professional development. He successfully completed numerous local courses, including the Basic Officer Cadet Course at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, and the Platoon Commander Course at Maduru Oya.

His international training includes the Officer Cadet Course at Dehradun in India, the Artillery Young Officers’ Course in India, the Officers’ Physical Training Course in India, the Officers’ Locating Course (OL-52) in Pakistan, the Advanced Gunnery (Field) - 1575 in India, the Long Gunnery Staff Course in India, the Artillery Battalion Commander Course in China and the Higher Defence Orientation Course in India.

He holds several academic qualifications, including a Master of Arts in Strategic Security Studies from the National Defence University (NDU), Washington DC, USA (2019-2020) and a Master of Science in Security and Strategic Studies from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). Additionally, he earned a Diploma in United States Joint Professional Military Education Phase II and Senior Level Education from NDU, Washington DC, USA, Graduate of Long Gunnery Staff Course, School of Artillery in India, Graduate of Army Command and Staff College Sri Lanka (presently Defence Services Command and Staff College), and Graduate of Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, India.

He was also decorated with the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) for his brave conduct in Humanitarian Operations in the North and East areas. Further, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo has also received service decorations such as the East Humanitarian Operation Medal, North Humanitarian Operation Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North & East Operations Medal, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Medal, 75th Independence Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, Sevabhimani Medal, and Sri Lanka Army 75th Anniversary Medal for his distinguished service in the Army.

The special achievements of his career include serving as the President of the International Students’ Committee during the International Counterterrorism Fellowship Program at the National Defence University in Washington, D.C. (NDU), being selected for the Award of the Best Foreign Student during the same program in 2020.

Appointed as the Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, a unique appointment rarely attained by only a very few officers in that seniority, he marked several achievements during that tenure: he trained nearly 450 middle-grade officers in the rank of Major and equivalent for the Army, Navy, and Air Force, in addition to 75 foreign officers from 11 friendly countries, over three consecutive years. This had a significant positive impact on enhancing the quality, capability, and calibre of officers in all three services and among officers of friendly countries.

He also headed a special delegation from the Defence Services Command and Staff College Sri Lanka to conduct a demanding seminar on “Sri Lanka’s Experience in Countering Terrorism” for the faculty and student officers of the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh, in 2023 and 2024.

He is married to Mrs. Swendrini Rodrigo and is blessed with a son and two daughters (Ends).