Published on - 12/5/2005
\"If a man does his best, what else is there?\" -Gen George Patton Jr
COMMANDER OF THE ARMY GENERAL SHANTHA KOTTEGODA WWV RWP RSP USP ndc who was promoted to the rank of General relinquished his Command today (5th December 2005) after an illustrious career of nearly thirty-six years.
Immediately after official hand-over of his duties to his successor, Army Commander-designate, Lt. General Sarath Fonseka at the Commander's office, the new Commander-designate unveiled a photograph of the outgoing Army Commander General Shantha Kottegoda. The outgoing Commander spent his last couple of hours on Monday (05) to bid adieu to a representative gathering of troops whom he loved so dearly and commanded.
In his final address as Commander of the Army to a representative gathering of the troops, General Shantha Kottegoda commended the commitment and dedication of his men to the cause of safeguarding the territorial integrity of this country. Accompanied by a cross section of Senior Officers, the retiring Chief afterwards attended a tea party hosted in his honour and posed for a photo session.
The farewell ceremony reached its climax when the Commander-designate conducted the outgoing Army chief to the main entrance at the Army Headquarters to receive the Guard of Honour where the outgoing Chief was invited by Colonel Commandant of the Regiment of Sri Lanka Light Infantry to inspect the Guard of Honour accorded by the Regiment.
Dressed in review order uniform, Senior Officers lining up to suit their seniority bade farewell to their outgoing Chief later after the Commander-designate conducted his predecessor to them and did the courtesy introduction as the rhythmic beats of Scottish “Auld Lang Syne,†meant to express feelings of friendship for the sake of good time began to pierce the air.
The moving moment of his departure reached its apex as he began to drive through the lined-up troops to approach the main entrance to AHQ when troops as well as members of the civil staff in the Army extended their oral greetings \"Jayashri\".
General Kottegoda, a true friend of the media and as someone who never minced words or hid the truth from exposure, met media scribes gathered around him and shared a couple of lighter moments about matters that were of concern to them before he said adieu to them..General Shantha Kottegoda, one of the battle-hardened Senior Officers in the Army who served as the 17th Commander of the Army, has wide experiences in operational duties for many long years, and is a very mature knowledgeable Senior Officer. Under his leadership and command of nearly sixteen months, the Army was able to move forward and implement a lot of welfare projects and various other measures for the benefit of serving troops. He treasured infantry closer to his heart since it is the nerve of an Army anywhere in the world, for that matter.
Famed in the Army as a war veteran cum a man of broad understanding and charming simplicity, Gen Kottegoda is regarded \"a skilful commander who puts himself in a position secured against defeat and misses no opportunity to defeat his enemy,\" as Sun Tzu once said.
Gen Kottegoda before he assumed this highest mantle of his illustrious military career as Commander in July 2004 served the office of Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Headquarters, Director General, General Staff, Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Inspector of Infantry, Army Headquarters, Director General, Training, Director Training (AHQ), Director Military Intelligence, Commander 11 Brigade, Ratnapura, Deputy Commandant, Kotelawala Defence Academy, Deputy Director National Intelligence Bureau, Principal Staff Officer, Operational Headquarters at Ministry of Defence, Coordinating Officer for Kalutara and Mullaitivu districts, Colonel General Staff, Commanding Officer 4th Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry and several other junior appointments, including those of the Company Commander, Adjutant 1st Sri Lanka Light Infantry, Staff Officer 11, etc.
In the war-torn areas of the north and east, Gen Kottegoda rendered his services in the office of Commander, Security Forces Wanni, General Officer Commanding 21 Division, Pompemadu, officiating General Officer Commanding 51 & 55 Divisions in Mirusuvil, Commander, 3rd Brigade Batticaloa, 5th Brigade in Mannar, Commander 10th Brigade Group Kayts and Pooneryn and a few other important appointments before he was recently nominated as the Overall Operational Commander in the East. As Overall Operational Commander in the East, he took the overall command of all Armed Forces, the Police and Special Task Force after the recent spate of criminal acts in the East.
Enlisted to the Army on 05th February 1970 as an Officer Cadet, he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant and posted to the 1st Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry. Later he became the adjutant of the First Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry. During his military career, to his credit, he followed Young Officers Course in India (1973), Battalion Support Weapon Officers Course in India (1979), Junior Command Course (1980), CRW Course, India (1983), Senior Command Course, India (1990-1992), Pacific Area Special Operation Course, Hawai, USA (1997), India based National Defence College Course (2000), in addition to a few overseas visits. He was also offered a special training course by the British Security Services (M15) on Intelligence and Protective Security in the UK.
General Kottegoda, in what was seen as recognition of his dedicated commitment to the cause, was appointed to play a vital role as Military Adviser to then Government delegation during the preliminary phase of the peace negotiations.
In praise of his bravery in the battlefront and recognition of his dedication to the service, he was decorated with several Gallantry Medals, including Weera Wickrema Vibhushana (WWV) Rana Wickrema Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (twice) and a few other conferment including Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP), Purna Bhumi Padakkama and the Vadamarachchi Operation Medal.
Gen Kottegoda, who has masterminded a number of welfare measures for the benefit of his men, is an old pupil of St Thomas College, Mount Lavinia. He excelled in sports representing his college in cricket, athletics and cadetting. Gen Kottegoda, married to Mrs Sonia Kottegoda has two children, daughter and son.
