BRIGADIER U.A.B. Medawela assumed office as new Military Spokesman and Director, Directorate of Media in the Army Headquarters this morning (July 1) during a brief ceremony, held at his office.
Brigadier Medawela during his military career spanning over 29 years has to-date held a number of prestigious and senior appointments in the Army before he was appointed to this appointment.
His predecessor, Major General Prasad Samarasinghe has been appointed as the Director General Research and Development at the Ministry of Defence. This is in addition to his current posts of Chief Signal Officer and Colonel Commandant of the Army Medical Corps.
Brigadier Medawela, an old boy of Nalanda College, Colombo initialed an official document to signify the assumption of duties after he lit the traditional oil lamp in the office.
Enlisted to the Army in 1981, he was commissioned on 18th July 1982 as a 2nd Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. He was serving as officiating General Officer Commanding (GOC) for 53 Division at the time he was appointed to this new office.
In the year 1995, he commanded the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment and subsequently held the appointments of Military Assistant to the Commander of the Army and Aide-de-camp too. He also served as an instructor and a course commander at Diyatalawa Sri Lanka Military Academy, and also as the Chief Instructor at Defence Service Command and Staff College at Batalanda.
He commanded 554 Infantry Brigade in Kilaly, Jaffna and became the Centre Commandant of the Armoured Corps thereafter. He was the Director Armour and Commander Armoured Brigade, prior to taking over as the Chief Instructor of the Defence Service Command and Staff College. He was also appointed the Deputy Vice Chancellor at Kotelawala Defence University.
He is an alumnus of Defence Service Command and Staff College, Wellington, India with an Instructor Grading and holds a First Division degree in Master of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Madras. He subsequently had the opportunity of becoming a member of the Directing Staff at the Army Command and Staff College, Sri Lanka.
To his credit, he also has followed overseas career military courses in India, Pakistan, Singapore, Bangladesh, Czech Republic and the USA. In addition, he has taken part in a number of military seminars, conferences and workshops, both local and overseas.
He has also been awarded ‘Uththama Seva Padakkama’, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal and a few more medals and decorations in recognition of his service to the country.
