Laudable Roles of Retiring Chief Field Engineer Gratefully Acknowledged

General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, setting apart a time slot out of his day's busy schedule took time off to highly appreciate and commend notable contributions of the retiring Major General Nihal Amarasekara, the 12th Chief Field Engineer of the Sri Lanka Army after inviting the latter with his family members to the former's office on Tuesday (21) at the Army HQ.

The Army Chief during the interaction gratefully acknowledged the outgoing Senior Officer’s unparalleled dedication to numerous nation-building tasks, army infrastructure development work, about 52 Presidential assignments, 11 special projects, 100,000 km road development work, 12 'Vari Saubhagya' projects, 'Sanda Hiru Seya' and 'Deegavapiya' constructions, industrial improvement roles, humanitarian de-mining roles, development of public utilities as deemed necessary, commitment to the needs of the new Defence HQ complex and many other notable achievements as an outstanding and tireless Engineer Officer with many varied talents.

"You were a source of encouragement and inspiration to the officers and other ranks of the Sri Lanka Army, spanning over 35 years in service and all those responsibilities were carried out with utmost dedication and loyalty, displaying high qualities of leadership as an Officer and a Gentleman. I am sure that all your distinguished roles are well admired and highly respected by young officers since you never allowed your tasks be affected due to epidemics or any other challenge with perseverance and determination. That will serve your memory for years," General Shavendra Silva commented.

General Shavendra Silva during the meet also inquired into his future endeavors as well as his other plans after retirement from the Army having served for more than 35 years of exemplary service and dedication. He also told his family members how the retiring Senior Officer toiled for the country without a break as a true son of the soil and appreciated his family’s unfailing and sustained backing for execution for his uninterrupted career commitments, without which he would not have been able to be fully dedicated to the cause.

The outgoing Chief Field Engineer in turn gratefully acknowledged the sustained support and guidance the Army Chief gave to him in the accomplishment of his commitments and wished him good luck with the Army's forward-march under General Shavendra Silva's unfailing leadership.

Mrs Shiromi Amarasekera, the spouse who is a teacher and his son Minura, together with the daughter Thenuri were also awarded a special gift by the Commander of the Army after General Shavendra Silva presented a symbolic memento to the outgoing Chief Field Engineer.

Major General Nihal Amarasekara enlisted to the Army on 24 June 1985. Upon successful completion of training in Sri Lanka and Pakistan, he was commissioned as a second Lieutenant on 01st January 1987. Presently he is serving as the Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers and the Chief Field Engineer of Sri Lanka Army.

During his unblemished Military Career over 35 years, he has held many Command, Staff and instructor appointments in Sri Lanka Army. He has held all the key appointments in unit line such as Platoon Commander, Intelligent Officer, Adjutant, Officer Commanding Field Squadron, Officer Commanding Headquarter Squadron, the Second in Command of 7 Field Engineer Regiment and he was privileged to Command the prestigious 7 Field Engineer Regiment.

Major General Nihal Amarasekara has discharged his duties as General Staff Officer III at Area Headquarters Kurunegala, General Staff Officer III at 6th Infantry Brigade, Brigade Major 6th Infantry Brigade, Staff Officer II - Master General Ordnance Branch at Army Headquarters, Staff Officer II - RHQ SLE, Staff Officer I - RHQ SLE and served as the Centre Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers. Further he has held the appointments of Deputy Commandant and the Commandant of School of Military Engineering, Colonel General Staff Officer 65 Division and Colonel Coordinating at HQ CFE.

He has commanded 571 Brigade, 583 Brigade and then he took over the appointments of Commander Engineer Brigade and the General Officer Commanding 56 Infantry Division in Vavuniya.

Major General Nihal Amarasekara has followed a number of Local and Overseas Courses in deferent stages during his illustrious military career. Some of the prominent Courses, training programmes and visit he participated are:

Officer physical training course in India, Young officers' course in India, Engineer Equipment course in India, Senior command course in India, Mid-career course in Pakistan, Engineer Caption carrier course – USA, United Nation Military Observer course - Malaysia, Modern strategic Management Concepts for Organization and project Management - University of Thailand.

Further, he has attended Seminar at Asia Pacific centre for security studies - Mongolia and he had been to China for Inspection on Military Logistic Vehicle. He followed a Course on unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) in the United Kingdom. With his vast experience and knowledge on military engineering he was privileged to represent the Commander of the Army as the Chief Guest for Advanced EOD course for Maldives Armed Forces in the Maldives.

His Local Military Education includes Basic Intelligence Officers Couse in Colombo, Junior Staff Course in Diyatalawa, Senior Tactics and Commanding Officers Course in Panagoda, Computer Course in Colombo, Potential Unit Commanding Officers Course in Diyatalawa, Bomb Disposal course in School of Military Engineering in Sri Lanka, Humanitarian Demining and management course from RONCO consulting cooperation of USA, Sri Lanka, Intelligence Environment Scanning course in Kilinochchi, Information operation and Civil Affairs Course in Kilinochchi, Strategic Leadership Course in Kilinochchi, Identification of dangerous goods relating to port security duties with reference to the international maritime dangerous good code at Port and Maritime Academy in Sri Lanka, Introductory course on Nuclear Security at University of Colombo, Nuclear or Radiological Emergency, Preparedness and response course at Atomic energy regulatory council in Sri Lanka.

He holds a Diploma in senior level defence management from Davi Ahiliya University indoor in India, Diploma in Engineering (CCC) in the US, Diploma in counselling in Sri Lanka, Master in National strategic and resilience studies in the University of Jakarta Indonesia.

For his valuable service and devotion to duty marked by exceptional ability, merit and exemplary conduct, he has been decorated with “Uththama Seva Padakkama”. In addition to that, he has been awarded over 11 service medals in recognition of the service rendered to the nation. He is a keen sportsman and also being a Marksman, he has been awarded colours for combat firing from the Corps of Engineers.