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Sri Lanka Army

Defender of the Nation

Services of Two Light Infantry Veterans Feted in Two Military Ceremonies


Sri Lanka Army’s oldest Regiment, Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) which has hitherto produced the most number of Commanders to the Army honoured and feted two of their veterans at two separate military ceremonies, held at the SLLI Headquarters at Panagoda on Tuesday (30).

Lieutenant General (retd) H.V Athukorala of the SLLI and Major General (retd) Nanda Mallawaarachchi, Secretary to Ministry of Law and Order were among the two most outstanding officers who were thus felicitated this morning (30), amidst a host of senior SLLI officers and other distinguished invitees in two separate military ceremonies at the SLLI Regimental Headquarters.

The military ceremony that saluted Lieutenant General (retd) H.V Athukorala, one of the best military officers ever produced by the SLLI, got underway after the veteran, much respected by all in the Army was warmly received by Major General Amal Karunasekara, Colonel of the Regiment, SLLI on arrival at the premises. A drive past Guard Turnout greeted him at the entrance.

A colourful Guard of Honour afterwards presented the salute to one of the much admired stalwarts in the SLLI Regiment after the Parade Commander reported the parade to the Chief Guest at the occasion.

Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General in February, this year by HE the President as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General (retd) Athukorala, who turned a new leaf of life in the SLLI, received many decorations and medals during his long and unblemished career of 33 years. Vishishta Seva Vibushana (VSV), Purna Bhumi Padakkama, etc are among a few of those medals, in addition to the academic recognition, psc degree, he has obtained from the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC). 

Lieutenant General (retd) Athukorala, having joined the Army in September 1950 as a Cadet Officer, received his commissions in 1 Sri Lanka Light Infantry (SLLI) Regiment. As an officer par excellence, Lieutenant General (retd) Athukorala, in his capacity as Lieutenant Colonel in the SLLI Regimental Headquarters, translated the history of SLLI Regiment, and was instrumental in composing the SLLI Regimental Song. He also held many appointments in Army sports boards and was pioneering in selecting SLLI uniform regalia and other decorations. Part I order generally issued by the incumbent Colonel of the Regiment or the Commander of the Army were his own creative productions to the Army.

To his credit, he commanded the Security Force Headquarters - Jaffna in early 1980, and became the Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (1982) afterwards, and later on upon his retirement, he enthusiastically served as Honorary Chairman of the SLLI Association and also as an Additional Consultant to the Additional Welfare Council at Ministry of Defence.

The citation read out in the ceremony, hailed Lieutenant General (retd) Athukorala as a symbol of true and astute military leadership and above all an officer whose exemplary career, has been admired and well recognized in the SLLI and the Army in general.

The second leg of the ceremonies, started off soon after the arrival of Major General (retd) Nanda Mallawaarachchi at the parade ground to the welcome of Major General Amal Karunasekara, Colonel of the Regiment, SLLI. A drive-past Guard Turnout greeted him. In the company of the parade commander, the visiting former military leader afterwards, inspected the Guard of Honour, presented by SLLI troops in his honour and received the salute from a special dais.        

Major General (retd) Nanda Mallawaarachchi, Secretary to Ministry of Law and Order who had served earlier as acting Commander of the Army and Chief of Staff of the Army, is from the SLLI Regiment and has continuously sweated to promote SLLI interests in the organization for years after his commission to the SLLI as a Second Lieutenant in 1972.

A past product of Anuradhapura Madhya Maha Vidyalaya and Ananda College, Colombo, Major General (retd) Mallawaarachchi, during his service span of 36 years, has served many responsible appointments, and actively contributed to the humanitarian operations as Commander Security Force Headquarters - East (2003 - 2004), Commandant Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF), Director General General Staff, Chief of Staff, Acting Commander of the Army and the Commanding Officer for the Military Operations that were on at the Mullaittivu front by June 2006.

Major General (retd) Mallawaarachchi’s illustrious career was decorated with Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Vishishta Seva Vibushana (VSV), Uththama Seva Padakkama (USP) and several other medals, including the ndu academic recognition.

Major General (retd) Mallawaarachchi who had performed commendably well as Colonel of the Regiment, SLLI more than once, Vice Chancellor at Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and Sri Lanka’s Ambassador for Indonesia, has followed many local and overseas military courses during his stay in the Army.

His tenure in Indonesia as Ambassador for Sri Lanka marked a turning point since both countries were able to bring bilateral relations to a record high while actively helping Indonesian authorities to eliminate LTTE terrorist networks, operating within the borders of Indonesia in covert manner.

The citation read out at the military ceremony at Panagoda also announced that Major General (retd) Mallawaarachchi, is a symbol of commitment, dedication and patriotism who is an exemplary leader, worth emulating.

Both those veterans are scheduled to be feted in a gala dinner tonight (30) at the Officers’ Mess at Army Headquarters. Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake, Commander of the Army, himself from the same Regiment was to attend the occasion as the Chief Guest.