24th April 2026
Major General P.R. Pathiravithana USAWC psc was invited to the office of the Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo RSP ctf-ndu psc IG, on 23 April 2026, prior to his retirement from the Sri Lanka Army after a distinguished military career spanning over 35 years.
Major General P.R. Pathiravithana USAWC psc enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet of Intake 34 on 14 July 1990. Upon the successful completion of military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps on 06 June 1992. Having been steadily promoted through the ranks, he was elevated to the rank of Major General on 19 August 2023. The Senior Officer will retire from the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army with effect from 06 May 2026, upon reaching 55 years of age. At the time of retirement, he holds the appointments of Director General General Staff, Army Headquarters, and Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps.
Throughout his illustrious military career, the Senior Officer has held numerous key appointments. He has served as Platoon Commander of the 1st and 3rd Battalions, Sri Lanka Light Infantry; Troop Leader of the 3rd Armoured Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; Officer Commanding of the 6th (Rft) Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; Officer Commanding of the Recruit Training Squadron at the Armoured Corps Training Centre; Squadron Commander at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy; Second-in-Command of the 6th (Rft) Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; Chief Instructor at the Armoured Corps Training Centre; Officiating Commanding Officer of the 9th (Rft) Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; Additional Contingent Commander of the Sri Lanka Battalion at the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH); Commanding Officer of the 8th (Rft) Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; Commanding Officer of the 3rd Armoured Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; and Directing Staff at the Defence Services Command and Staff College.
He has also served as Officiating Commandant of the Armoured Corps Training Centre; Colonel (General Staff) at Security Force Headquarters (Kilinochchi); Overlooking Brigadier (General Staff) at Security Force Headquarters (Kilinochchi); Colonel (Adjutant General) at the Adjutant General’s Branch, Army Headquarters; Brigadier (Coordinating) at the Defence Services Command and Staff College; Director General Staff Duties at Army Headquarters; Commander of Security Forces (East); Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka National Guard; Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; and Director General General Staff at Army Headquarters.
Apart from the above appointments, he has held various appointments at the Infantry Division and Brigade levels in the capacities of General Staff Officer 3, Brigade Major, General Staff Officer 1, Infantry Brigade Commander, and General Officer Commanding.
The Senior Officer has successfully completed several local and overseas courses, including the Young Officers Course, Par Excellence Course, Junior Staff Course, Operational Staff Duties Course, Law of Armed Conflict Course, Army Command and Staff Course, United Nations Potential Observer and Staff Officers Course, Global Peace Operations Initiative United Nations Staff Officers Course, and the United Nations Mission Induction Course at the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka (IPSOTSL). Overseas training includes the Armoured Corps Young Officers Basic Course in Pakistan, the Radio Instructor Course in India, the Military Induction Training Course in Haiti, the United Nations Mission Induction Course in Haiti, the Combat Team Commanders Course in India, the Combat Group Commanders Course in India, and the United States Army War College Course in the United States of America.
In addition to his military qualifications, the Senior Officer has obtained a Master of Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Kelaniya.
