22nd February 2023 19:00:15 Hours
Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Army on Wednesday (22) lent his best wishes and compliments to one more Senior Officer, Major General R.W Ponnamperuma RSP psc, General Officer Commanding of the 68 Division of the Security Force HQ-Mullaittivu on the eve of his retirement from the Army upon completion of more than three decades of unblemished service.
The outgoing Senior Officer at the invitation of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, together with his family members arrived at the Commander’s office.
The Army Chief during the interactions with the retiring Senior Officer praised him for his dedicated service and performance of diverse responsibilities with unfailing commitment and selflessness.
Major General R.W Ponnamperuma RSP psc in return thanked the Army Commander for the invitation and expressed his gratitude for the able guidance the Commander extended to him all the time in the performance of his office as the General Officer Commanding of 68 Division.
The Army Chief while sharing a few pleasantries with his family members invited to the occasion also inquired into the retiring Senior Officer’s future endeavours and plans. The Commander of the Army simultaneously commended the invaluable support that has been given to the Senior Officer by his family members throughout his career particularly during challenging times while the retiring Senior Officer was engaged in operations elsewhere in the battleground to safeguard the motherland.
Towards the end of the interactions, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage awarded a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a symbol of appreciation and commendation along with a special gift to the family. Major General R.W Ponnamperuma RSP psc, also presented a memento in return.
Major General R.W Ponnamperuma RSP psc enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army on 20 January 1989 and underwent basic military training in the Pakistan Military Academy in the Intake 31-PMA before he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment. He was promoted to the rank of Major General on 22 May 2022.
He has been holding the office of the General Officer Commanding of 68 Division at the time of his retirement. He also held the appointments of Platoon Commander, Battalion Intelligence Officer, Officer Commanding, General Staff Officer 3, Staff Officer 2, Brigade Major, Aid-de-Camp (ADC) to the Former Commander of the Army - Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Second-In-Command, Commanding Officer of 23 SLSR, General Staff Officer 1, Commander, 662 and 642 Infantry Brigades, Deputy Commandant, Sri Lanka Military Academy and Brigadier (General Staff) Security Force Headquarters -West.
During his service period, he has followed many local and overseas courses including, Platoon Commander Course, Intelligence Officers’ Course, Motor Transports Officers’ Course, Young Officers’ Course, Instructors Training Course, Army Command and Staff Course, Basic Airborne Course, Officer Cadet Training Course - Pakistan, Officers’ Weapon Course - Bangladesh, Officer All Arms Field Engineering and Watermanship Course - Pakistan, Young Officers’ Course - Pakistan, Junior Command Course - India, Advanced Training Programme for Talents from Maritime Silk Road Countries - China and Senior Command Course - India.
For his bravery and gallantry in the battlefield, he has been awarded the ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ (RSP).
