30th May 2025
Major General W.S.N Hemarathna RWP RSP psc was invited to the Office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, along with his family members on 30 May 2025, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army after completing a distinguished career spanning 34 years.
Below is a brief profile of the retiring Senior Officer:
Major General W.S.N Hemarathna RWP RSP psc enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet into the Intake 35 on 02 January 1991. Upon successful completion of military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment on 29 August 1992. After being steadily elevated to subsequent ranks during his military service, he was promoted to the rank of Major General on 05 June 2024.
The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 07 June 2025 on reaching 55 years of age. At the time of his retirement, he was holding the appointment of General Officer Commanding of 12 Infantry Division.
Major General W.S.N Hemarathna RWP RSP psc held a range of key appointments throughout his distinguished career. He served as the Platoon Commander and Officer Commanding of the 1st Battalion, the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. He held the appointment of General Staff Officer 3 (Operations) at the Directorate of Psychological Operations at Army Headquarters and served as the Operation and Training Officer of the 1st Battalion, Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. He also served as the Brigade Major of 533 Infantry Brigade and as the Staff Officer 2 of the Military Secretary’s Branch at Army Headquarters. He was appointed as the Second-in-Command of the 7th Battalion, the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and later served as the Commanding Officer of the 8th Battalion, the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. He served as a Directing Staff member at the Defence Services Command and Staff College and as Overlooking Colonel (Commander’s Secretariat) and Staff Officer 1 of the Commander’s Secretariat at Army Headquarters. Additionally, he served as the Staff Officer 1 (Protocol Cell) and Staff Officer 1 (Grade 2/3 Cell) of the Military Secretary’s Branch at Army Headquarters.
His overseas duties included service as a Staff Officer of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH). He also served as the Senior Instructor (Unit Command Course Section) and Chief Instructor at the Officer Career Development Centre (OCDC), as the Commander of the 581 Infantry Brigade, Centre Commandant of the Regimental Centre at the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, Deputy Commandant of the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Director of the Directorate of Plans and Director of the Directorate of Operations at Army Headquarters. He culminated his career as the Director General of the Directorate of Operations and General Officer Commanding of the 12 Infantry Division.
The Senior Officer has been awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama and the Rana Sura Padakkama (awarded twice) in appreciation of his dedicated service rendered during his tenure in the Sri Lanka Army.
He has completed numerous local and foreign military courses throughout his career. These include the Assault Pioneer Course, Battalion Support Weapons Officers’ Course, Unit Accounts Officers’ Course, and the Army Command and Staff Course. In addition, he successfully completed several international military training programmes such as the Young Officers Course, the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare Course, the Junior Command Course, and the Defence Services Staff Course in India. He also followed the United Nations Contingent Commanders’ Course and the Security Sector Reform Course in Bangladesh, as well as the Overseas Directing Staff Course in the United Kingdom.
The Senior Officer has obtained a Master’s Degree in Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya.
