Army Chief Admires Retiring Major General's Notable Service

Major General C.A Rajapakse RSP, General Officer Commanding of the 58 Infantry Division, was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, on 18 September 2024, along with his family, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army.

During the meeting, the Army Chief commended the Senior Officer for his unwavering dedication and exemplary performance in various challenging roles throughout his career, both during the war and post-war era. The Commander of the Army also acknowledged the pivotal role played by his family in supporting him throughout his career. In response, Major General C.A Rajapakse RSP expressed his profound gratitude for the steadfast guidance and support provided by the Army Chief. After the interaction, the Commander of the Army presented a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a symbol of appreciation and commendation, along with gifts for his family.

Here is a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:

Major General C.A Rajapakse RSP enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army in Intake PMA 02, as an Officer Cadet on 15 October 1990. Upon successfully completing military training at the Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) and the Sri Lanka Military Academy - Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the Gemunu Watch on 13 March 1991. After steadily elevating through the ranks during his service in the Army, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 01 January 2024. The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 27 September 2024, upon reaching 55 years of age.

Throughout his career, he held various key appointments, including Platoon Commander and Officer Commanding of the 1st Battalion Gemunu Watch, General Staff Officer 3 (Operations) of the Headquarters - 521 Infantry Brigade, Officer Commanding of the Rear Headquarters, Gemunu Watch - Kohuwala, Aide-De-Camp to the then Deputy Chief of Staff and Colonel of the Regiment of the Gemunu Watch, Officer Commanding of the 12th Battalion Gemunu Watch, Brigade Major of the Subarea Headquarters - Rathnapura, Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Battalion in the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Second-in-Command of the 17th Battalion Gemunu Watch, General Staff Officer 1 (Coordinating) of Security Force Headquarters (Jaffna), Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Gemunu Watch, General Staff Officer 1 (Coordinating) of the Headquarters - Overall Operations Command (Western Province and Puttalam District), General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) of the Headquarters, 57 Infantry Division, Staff Officer 1 (Administration) of the Regimental Centre, Gemunu Watch, Contingent Commander of the 11th Sri Lanka Force Protection Company (SLFPC) in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Commander of 592 Infantry Brigade and 512 Infantry Brigade, Commandant of the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL), and General Officer Commanding of 58 Infantry Division.

He was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama for his bravery on the battlefield.

The Senior Officer has completed numerous local and foreign courses during his military career, including the Platoon Commanders’ Tactics Course, Basic Swimming Course, Unit Administration Course, Battalion Support Weapons Officers’ Course, Regimental Signal Officers Course, Young Officers’ Course - India, Junior Command Course - India, and the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration Course - Bangladesh.