22nd November 2019 12:10:21 Hours
Progressive and sequential series of meticulously planned training, command, commitment, integrity, punctuality, precision, exceptional degree of discipline, pursuance of educational and experiential roles, capacity for tolerance and decision-making, which are far more demanding, lay the general sound basis for military leadership traits in general, and more importantly, such leadership is deeply rooted on the concept of dedicated duty, service, and self-sacrifice with high levels of responsibility and authority at varying levels for multi-faceted tasks.
The Sri Lanka Army since its humble beginnings in 1949 is no exception to this globally-acclaimed fact, and has to-date proudly produced an assortment of distinguished personages of iconic recognition, mustering admiration of all lifestyles in society as the country’s best service-provider cum the defenders of the Nation.
Sri Lanka’s 7th Executive President HE Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who took on the mantle of steering power in the island-nation on Monday (18) after a convincing landslide mandate, epitomizes this embodiment of all those above-mentioned characteristics and virtues, and adds a golden chapter to the annals of the Army history as well as to His mentor, the renowned Gajaba Regiment (GR) by carving a niche for himself as the first-ever Army-produced Head of State in this country.
As a spirited young officer, his enlistment to the then Ceylon Army on 26 April 1971 and the subsequent commissioning as a 2nd Lieutenant on 25 May 1972 upon his training at the then Army Training Centre, Diyathalawa undoubtedly sowed the seeds for his promising career prospects, having been posted to the Ceylon Signals Corps at first, and then to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and Rajarata Rifles.
The remarkable turning-point as HE himself has gone on record saying was his assimilation to the Gajaba Regiment upon its founding in 1983 after amalgamation of disbanded Rajarata Rifles and the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment together, indeed a foresighted move by late Major General Vijaya Wimalarathne, the GR’s founding father. The young and sharp Officer was appointed the Officer Commanding of the ‘C’ Company under the direct command of late veteran, Major General Vijaya Wimalarathne after the 1st Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment was raised.
With passage of time, Lieutenant Colonel Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed as the 5th Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion of the Gajaba Regiment and his military life began to take shape. Subsequently, he had the privilege of participating in the ‘Operation Liberation’ in Vadamaarachchi, Operation ‘Thrivida Balaya’ in 1990 as its Commanding Officer, and also commanded the same Battalion in the ‘Operation Strike Hard’. He contributed afterwards to the control of the JVP insurrection during 1987 – 1989 and was appointed as the Coordinating Officer for Matale District during the peak of violence in order to sustain the civil administration unaffected. He also served as the Deputy Commandant at the Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy, prior to his retirement from active service in 1992.
As a reward of gallantry, bravery and excellence in combat and commitment, the Officer Gotabaya Rajapaksa was awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) and Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) and several other medals.
In addition, He was one of the firsts who was privileged to receive gallantry awards from three successive Presidents, Hon J. R Jayawardene, Hon R Premadasa and Hon D. B Wijetunge. During his stay in the Army, this distinguished ‘Keterian’ has also attended several local and overseas courses. Some of them included Signal Young Officer Course (Pakistan), Infantry Company Commander Course (Pakistan), Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare Course (India), Command and Staff Course in Welington (India). In the Army selection examination to follow the India-based Command and Staff Course, he secured the first place in order of merits.
After completing his primary and secondary education at Ananda College, Gotabaya Rajapaksa completed his Master’s Degree in Defence Studies at the University of Madras in 1983. In addition, Mr. Rajapaksa also completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Information Technology at the University of Colombo in 1992, and was conferred an Honours Doctor of Letters by the University of Colombo in 2009.
Mr Rajapaksa and his family afterwards in 1992 migrated to the United States of America. He worked as a Systems Administrator at Loyola Law School, California, where he was able to gain more experience in the operation of computer systems, particularly in the area of electronic communications. That experience further cemented his desire to work towards enhancement of national security in Sri Lanka.
In 2005, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksa was appointed the Secretary to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Defence where he played a key role in ending the three-decade-long terrorist war through his skillfully-coordinated military strategy. He then turned his focus to swiftly restoring normalcy to the country whilst taking steps to further consolidate national security in a convincing manner. This included a series of initiatives, including capacity building within state agencies and departments under the Ministry of Defence such as the Department of Immigration & Emigration, the Department for Registration of Persons, and the Coast Guard. Taking reins in the Urban Development Authority, he transformed the heart of Colombo city to be one of the best and modern ones in the world with impressive beautification projects.
As a prominent administrator, he oversaw the military involvement in de-mining, reconstruction and resettlement in the North and East, and in the rehabilitation and reintegration to society of 12,000 former LTTE combatants. Mr Rajapaksa was also instrumental in uplifting the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy to a fully-fledged University. His leadership and strong, principled diplomacy helped end the war and protect the country from terrorism that had been a major impediment to Sri Lanka’s further development for decades.
HE Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s ascension to the highest seat of power with record 6,924,255 votes (52.25%), the highest ever polled in the country’s election history by a single candidate bears evidence to the inspiring and conscientious obligation he harbours towards the country. It once again reaffirms his vowed determination to serve the Motherland by highlighting the value of military leadership as a model for all budding leaders.
Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, together with All Ranks and Members of the Civil Staff takes pride in extending best wishes for his future endeavours and assures all possible assistance to forge ahead in future under his visionary guidance as the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
The maxim, “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent,” appears to be the guiding principle of the new President of Sri Lanka as he had already pronounced at Anuradhapura. Nike shoes | [169220C] Stone Island Shadow Project (The North Face Black Box) – Hamilton Brown, Egret
