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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

01st June 2023 20:37:48 Hours

Retiring Senior Cavalry Officer’s Service & Commitment Hailed

The retiring Major General D.B.S.N Bothota RWP RSP VSV USP psc of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps (SLAC), Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps prior to his retirement after a landmark career of more than 35 years in the Army on Thursday (1) arrived at the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu on invitation, together with his family members.

The Army Chief during the meeting with the most senior Cavalry Officer praised him for his dedicated services and performance of diverse responsibilities with unfailing commitment and selflessness. He also refreshed memories of the retiree’s invaluable sacrifices and roles he played during the height of the war against terrorism before May 2009.

Major General D.B.S.N Bothota RWP RSP VSV USP psc in return thanked the Army Commander for the invitation and expressed his gratitude for the guidance the Commander extended to him in the performance of his office as the Commander, SFHQ-Jaffna and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps.

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 Army Chief 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 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 D.B.S.N Bothota RWP RSP VSV USP psc enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army on 02 February 1988 and underwent basic military training in the Sri Lanka Military Academy in the Intake 29. He was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and afterwards posted to the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. He was promoted to the rank of Major General on 28 January 2021.

He has been holding the office of Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps at the time of his retirement. He also held the appointments of Troop leader of 3rd Armoured Regiment Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Troop leader of 1st Reconnaissance Regiment of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Aide-De-Camp (ADC) to late Lieutenant General D L Kobbekaduwa RWP RSP VSV USP, Officer Instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Adjutant of the 5th Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Squadron Commander of 5th Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Staff Officer-2 at SLAC Regimental Centre, Squadron Commander of Headquarter Squadron 3rd Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Senior Instructor of Sri Lanka Military Academy, Second-in-Command of 6th (Reinforcement) Regiment Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Officer Commanding of Mechanized Company Sri Lanka Battalion in United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Second-in-Command of 4th Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, Commanding Officer of 4th, 6th and 1st Sri Lanka Armoured Corps, General Staff Officer 1 (Plans) of Directorate of Plans Army Headquarters, Directing Staff of Defence Services Command and Staff College, Officiating Colonel (Training) of Directorate of Training, Colonel (Commander’s Secretariat) of Commander’s Secretariat Army Headquarters, Commander of 112 Infantry Brigade, Assistant Military Secretary 3 of Military Secretary’s Branch Army Headquarters, Assistant Military Secretary 2 of Military Secretary’s Branch Army Headquarters, Minister Counselor (Defence) of High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in the United Kingdom, Commandant of Army War College, General Officer Commanding of 61 Infantry Division, Adjutant General of the Army Headquarters and the Military Secretary of the Army Headquarter.

For his bravery and gallantry in the battlefields, he has been awarded the ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ and the ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’.

Major General D.B.S.N Bothota RWP RSP VSV USP psc followed many local and foreign courses during his military career, such as the Unit Security Course, Army Command and Staff Course, Managing Defence in the Wider Security Context Course, Young Officers’ Course - India, Radio Instructor Course - Pakistan, Defence Services Commander and Staff Course - Bangladesh, Combat Group Commander Course - India, Senior Commander Course - India, Higher Defence Orientation Course - India, Security Stability Transition and Reconstruction Course - United States of America.

He has also read for degrees, such as the Masters in Development Studies at the University of Colombo, Master of Arts in International Relations at the University of Colombo, Master in Defence Studies at the National University-Bangladesh and the Master of Defence Studies at the University of Kelaniya.