Commander of the Army Praises Renowned Service of Retiring Senior Officer

Major General S.A.N.D Edirisinghe RWP RSP Hdmc psc was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu, on 23 December 2024, along with his family members, 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 service in various challenging roles throughout his service, both during the war against terrorism and the post-war period. The Commander also acknowledged the pivotal support provided by his family throughout his career.

In response, Major General S.A.N.D Edirisinghe RWP RSP Hdmc psc expressed his profound gratitude for the steadfast guidance and support offered by the Army Chief.

Towards the end of the meeting, the Commander of the Army presented a special memento to the retiring Senior Officer as a token of appreciation, along with gifts for his family. The gesture was reciprocated.

Below is a Brief Profile of the Retiring Senior Officer:

Major General S.A.N.D Edirisinghe RWP RSP Hdmc psc enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army into the Intake 33 as an Officer Cadet on 14 July 1989. Upon successfully completing his military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Light Infantry on 15 June 1991. Subsequently, he was transferred to the Special Forces and later returned to the Sri Lanka Light Infantry.

After steadily elevating through the ranks during his service in the Army, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 18 May 2023. The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army on 01 January 2025 upon reaching the age of 55. Prior to his retirement, he held the appointments of Director General General Staff at Army Headquarters and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police.

Throughout his career, he has held various key appointments, including serving as Platoon Commander of the 6 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Instructor at the Combat Training School, Intelligence Officer of the 6 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Adjutant of the 6 Sri Lanka Light Infantry and the Officer Commanding of the 3 Special Forces, 1 Special Forces and Administration & Support Squadron of 1 Special Forces. He also served as General Staff Officer 2 (Operations/East) at the Joint Operations Headquarters (JOH), Directing Staff at the Volunteer Force Training School, Chief Instructor at the Volunteer Force Training School, and Operations and Training Officer of the 8 Sri Lanka Light Infantry. Additionally, he served as the Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Battalion at the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH), Second-in-Command of the 4 Sri Lanka Light Infantry, and Commanding Officer of the 4 Sri Lanka Light Infantry. His staff appointments include Staff Officer 1 at the Chief of Staff Office, Army Headquarters, and Officiating Military Assistant at Army Headquarters. He also coordinated the Disaster Management Coordinating Unit (Galle) and served as Colonel (General Staff) of the 62 Infantry Division, Deputy Sector Commander of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and Officiating Commander of the 571 Infantry Brigade. Moreover, he has held appointments as Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) at the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Director of the Directorate of Veterans Affairs at Army Headquarters, Commandant of the Army Training School, Director of the Directorate of Operations at Army Headquarters, Director General of the Directorate of Operations at Army Headquarters, Director General General Staff at Army Headquarters, and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police.

The Senior Officer has also been awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama (twice) and the Rana Sura Padakkama (twice) in recognition of his bravery on the battlefield.

He completed numerous local and foreign training courses during his military career, including the Platoon Commanders Refresher Course, Basic Intelligence and Security Course, Special Forces Basic and Advanced Course, Unit Administration Course, Basic Parachute Training Course, Psychological Operations Course (Exercise Balance Style), Computer Course, Army Command and Staff Course, Potential Observer and Staff Officers Course (POSOC), United Nations Civil-Military Coordination (UN-CIMIC) Officers Course, and Basic First Aid Course in Sri Lanka. His international training includes the Young Officers’ Infantry Course in Pakistan, Mid-Career Course in Pakistan, Military Induction Training Course in Haiti, Global Peace Operations Initiative Peacekeeping Operations Instructors’ Course in Malaysia, Army Mid-level Command Course in China, and Higher Defence Management Course in India.

In addition, the Senior Officer pursued higher education, completing a Residential Course on the "Federal Idea" conducted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA) in Sri Lanka and earning an Advanced Certificate in French Language at the Alliance Française de Colombo. He also obtained a Diploma in Migration Studies at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO)), a Diploma in Professional Diplomacy and World Affairs at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute, a Postgraduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Peace Preparedness at the University of Bradford, and a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations at the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies. Furthermore, he earned a Master in Management Studies at Osmania University in India, a Master of Arts in International Relations at the University of Colombo, and a Master in Human Rights at the University of Colombo.