MAJOR General Kamal Gunaratne who earlier served as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 53 Division during the peak of the War on Terror took over duties as the new Commander, Security Forces Headquarters-Wanni (SFHQ-W) amidst blessings of members of clergy on Monday (20).
The formal ceremony commenced as Maj. Gen. Gunaratne reached the entrance to the SFHQ-W where a Guard Turn-out, followed by a Guard of Honour awaited his arrival. His own troops of the Gajaba Regiment (GR) saluted the new Wanni Commander.
Brigadier General Staff SFHQ-W Brig. Sudantha Ranasinghe welcomed the new Wanni Commander at the gateway to his office and attended religious observances, conducted by priests representing all four major religions before he initialed the first document marking his assumption of duties.
The first conference, chaired by him and attended by all General Officers Commanding (GOC), Area Commanders and Staff Officers got underway minutes after his assumption.
Major General Kamal Gunaratne played a pivotal role as a Senior Ground Commander during the humanitarian operations in both Jaffna and Wanni when fierce fighting with LTTE in the past few years took place. Major General Gunaratne who has a proven record of warfare was the one in charge of Nanthikandal lagoon area when Prabhakaran heaved his last.
In addition to this senior appointment, he serves as the Colonel of the Regiments of both Gajaba Regiment and Special Force. After his predecessor took over the highest mantle in the Army as Commander of the Army, Major General Gunaratne became the Commander for Wanni Security Forces.
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