Outgoing MIR Senior Officer’s Services Hailed by Army Chief

Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, Commander of the Army on Thursday (10) extended his best wishes to one of the Senior Officers, Major General H.M.U Herath RWP RSP VSV USP Hdmc psc, General Officer Commanding, 61 Infantry Division and Colonel of the Regiment of Mechanized Infantry Regiment (MIR) who is to retire shortly from the Army.

The Army Chief invited the retiree and his family members to his office and commended him for his dedicated services in the 34-year-long career, filled with cherished memories.

Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage did not mince words to recall Major General H.M.U Herath’s commitment and untiring services, both at operational and administrative levels as well as his memorable contribution to the successful conduct of the humanitarian operation before May 2009. For his bravery and gallantry in the battlefields, he has been awarded the ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ (RWP) five times and the ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ two times in recognition of his selfless dedication.

In response, Major General H.M.U Herath RWP RSP VSV USP Hdmc psc thanked the Army Commander for the invitation to his office and acknowledged the guidance he received from him while fulfilling his roles as the General Officer Commanding, 61 Infantry Division and Colonel of the Regiment of the MIR.

Amid pleasant exchange of views, the Army Chief inquired about the retiring Senior Officer’s future plans and the well-being of his family members. The elder son of the retiring Major General H.M.U Herath RWP RSP VSV USP Hdmc psc who is presently following the Officer Cadet course at the Kotelawala Defence University was also given a piece of advice by the Commander of the Army wishing him good luck during the cordial meet.

Leaving memories, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, symbolic of his appreciation of the outgoing Senior Officer’s service to the Army awarded a memento to the retiring Major General H.M.U Herath RWP RSP VSV USP Hdmc psc and a separate gift to the family.

Here follows a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer;

Major General H.M.U Herath RWP RSP VSV USP Hdmc psc enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army on 20 January 1989 and underwent basic military training in the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Intake 30A. He was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and afterward posted to the Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment and subsequently to the Mechanized Infantry Regiment on 04 February 2007 with its inauguration. He was promoted to the rank of Major General on 18 May 2022.

He has been holding the office of General Officer Commanding of 61 Infantry Division and Colonel of the Regiment of MIR at the time of his retirement. He also held the appointments of Platoon Commander of 3 SLLI, Intelligence Officer of 3 SLLI, Adjutant of 3 SLLI, Officer Commanding of 3 SLLI, General Staff Officer 2 (Training & Support) of Army Command and Staff College, Operations and Training Officer of 3 SLLI, General Staff Officer 2 (Operations) of Directorate of Operations - Army HQ, Military Observer in United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Officer Instructor at Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka, General Staff Officer 2 (Operations) of 22 Infantry Division, General Staff Officer 2 of Regimental Centre Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Adjutant of Regimental Centre Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Commanding Officer of 1 MIR, Commanding Officer (Training Wing) of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, the Dean of Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, General Staff Officer 1 of Independent Directorate - Army Headquarters, Deputy Centre Commandant of MIR Regimental Centre, Officiating Centre Commandant of Regimental Centre - MIR, Colonel (Military Secretary) of Military Secretary’s Branch - Army Headquarters, Brigade Commander of 544 and 652 Infantry Brigades, Director (Concept & Monitoring) - Army Training Command and General Officer Commanding of 52 and 53 Infantry Divisions.

Major General H.M.U Herath RWP RSP VSV USP Hdmc psc followed many local and foreign courses during his military career, such as Company Commanders’ Course, Platoon Commanders’ Tactics Course, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Basic Instructor Course for Officers, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Advanced Refresher Course for Officers, Basic Parachute Course, Unit Commanders’ Refresher Course, United Nations Missions Pre-training Course, Officers’ Physical Training Course - Pakistan, Young Officers’ Course - India, Junior Command Course - India, Infantry Battalion Commanders’ Course - China and National Security and War Course - Pakistan. Platoon Commanders’ Tactics Course, Intelligence Officers’ Course, Artillery Observation Course, Battalion Support Weapons Officers’ Course, Air Mobile Course, Officers’ Operational Staff Duties Course, Army Command and Staff Course, Information Technology Course, Potential Observer Staff Officers’ Course, Basic Meditation Skills and Process Workshop Course, Command and Control Over Personal Computer Operational Level War-game, Basic Cadet Course - India, Young Officers’ Course - Pakistan, Officers’ Weapon Course - Bangladesh, Junior Command Course - India, Military Observer Course - Kenya, United Nations Peace Support Operation Training Course - Bangladesh, and Higher Defence Management Course - India.

Further, he followed higher educational qualifications, such as a Master of Management Studies at Osmania University in India, Training Programme for Defence Attachés / Counsellors Posted Abroad at Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute.