Major General S.W.L Daulagala, the newly appointed Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) assumed office on Friday (23) morning during a brief ceremony, held at SLAVF Headquarters in Kosgama.
A Guard Turnout and a Guard of Honour saluted the new Commandant in accordance with military formalities after he was welcomed on arrival at the premises.
A brief religious ceremony, headed by Ven Galahitiyagoda Sumanaratana Thero of the Malwatte monastery invoked blessings on the new appointment after chanting Seth Pirith. He also planted a tree sapling at the SLAVF premises to mark the occasion.
As a formality, the new SLAVF Commandant symbolically placed his signature in an official document before he addressed a gathering of SLAVF officers and other ranks who had gathered at the premises.
Major General S.W.L Daulagala RSP USP ndu is the 31st Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, which has a glorious history of 132 years in the annals of the Volunteer movement in Sri Lanka.
Having completed his officer cadet training in the prestigious Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa and Officer Training Academy, Chennai in India, he was commissioned and posted to then, 1 Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment as a platoon commander in 1981 and subsequently to the Gajaba Regiment as a pioneer member at its inception.
During his illustrious career over three decades, he was bestowed with a number of military decorations and awards. That includes Rana Sura Padakkama thrice for his valour in battle, Utthama Seva Padakkama for his unblemished military career, East Humanitarian Operation medal, North Humanitarian Operation medal, PoornaBhumiPadakkama, North & East Operations Medal, Vadamarachchi Operations Medal, Riviresa Campaign Medal & clasp, 50th Independence Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal and Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Services Medal.
Presently, Major General LalithDaulaga is entrusted with the key portfolio appointment, Colonel of the Regiment of the Gajaba Regiment. He has been privileged to assume this esteemed appointment thrice in the history of the Regiment, respectively from 26th May 2008 to 15th September 2008, 15th August 2009 to 04th July 2011 and since 11th September 2013 to date.
Some of the key appointments he held during his thirty-four year tour of duty are Commanding Officer 3rd battalion the Gajaba Regiment, General Staff Officer 1 – Directorate of Operations, Commandant, Infantry Training Centre, Colonel General Staff – 23 Division, Commander 546, 234 and 231Infantry Brigades, Commandant, Combat Training School, Commander Area Headquarters Kandy, assistant Military Liaison Officer- Ministry of Defence, General officer Commanding 21 and 61 Divisions during Humanitarian Operations, General Officer Commanding 11 Division, Director General Infantry, Commander, Security Force Headquarters (South) and prior to assuming the incumbent appointment.
Major General Daulagala held the appointment of Director General – General Staff (DGGS) at the Army Headquarters until he took over the SLAVF.
Major General Daulagala has held the diplomatic post of Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka in Malaysia, and he had been the Head of the Mission for over one year. Further, he had visited Czech Republic, India, Indonesia and Malaysia where he acquired a vast array of experience and profound knowledge by attending training programs, seminars in various disciplines.
There were many training courses that he underwent throughout his career to become a professional officer, some of them are Senior Tactics & Company Commanders Course in the Army Training School Maduruoya, Junior Officers Leadership course in School of Infantry & Tactics, Quetta Pakistan, Junior Command Course and Senior Command course in War Collage Mhow, India, Comprehensive Security Response to Terrorism course and Advance Security Cooperation course in Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies, Hawaii USA and the Defence& Strategic Studies Course in National Defence University Beijing PR China.
Major General Daulagala is a proud product of St. Anthony’s College Kandy and St. Sylvester’s College Kandy. He was well-known for his athletic prowess in many different fields in the school sports arena during his school days.
He is married to Mrs. Saroja Sandamali Daulagala and blessed with a son and a daughter.
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