A total of 4741 Army officers have been promoted by President Gotabaya Rajapakse to mark the 12th National War Heroes Commemoration Day on 18 May (today).
Describing the promotions as a bonanza, the Army said it is one of the biggest promotions in recent times. The promotions will come into effect today.
Of the total, 452 Officers are from the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Sri Lanka Army and 4289 are from the Other Ranks of the Army.
The promotions have been made on the recommendation of the Ministry of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army General Shavendra Silva.
The promotions in the Regular and Volunteer Forces include 12 Brigadiers who have been promoted to the rank of Major General, 37 Colonels to the rank of Brigadier, 39 Lieutenant Colonels to the rank of Colonel, 40 Majors to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, 62 Captains to the rank of Major, 61 Lieutenants to the rank of Captain and 201 Second Lieutenants to the rank of Lieutenant.
In the category of Other Ranks, 83 Warrant Officers-11 have been promoted to the rank of Warrant Officer-1, 330 Staff Sergeants to the rank of Warrant Officer-11, 493 Sergeants to the rank of Staff Sergeant, 1095 Corporals to the rank of Sergeant, 1168 Lance Corporals to the rank of Corporal and 1120 Privates to the rank of Lance Corporal.
The promotions from the rank of Brigadier to Major General are:
Brigadier G D Sooriyabandara USP, Brigadier S P A I M B Samarakoon Hdmc Lsc, Brigadier D P U Gunasekera RWP USP IG, Brigadier K R K K T Bandara RSP USP, Brigadier U D Wijesekera RWP RSP USP rcds psc, Brigadier W H K S Peiris RWP RSP USP ndu, Brigadier L D S S Liyanage RSP USP psc Hdmc, Brigadier M K Jayawardena RSP USP ndu, Brigadier M G T D Rathnasekara USP, Brigadier K H K Kottawattha RWP RSP USP, Brigadier W R M M Rathnayake RWP RSP USP ndu, Brigadier W B W M R S P Aluvihare RWP RSP.
The promotions from the rank of Colonel to Brigadier are:
Colonel T C L Ganepola RWP RSP psc, Colonel B L R Bamunusinghe, Colonel E M M Fernando AATO Lsc, Colonel A M K G P S K Abeysinghe, Colonel S N Kithulgoda USP, Colonel M G W Wimalasena RSP, Colonel T S Balasuriya, Colonel W T Karunaratne RSP USP, Colonel A A J S A S Perera RSP USP, Colonel P C L Gunawardhane RWP RSP psc, Colonel E N Kurukulasuriya RWP RSP psc, Colonel J K R Jayakody RWP USP, Colonel R P Munipura RWP RSP, Colonel S P K Kurugama USP, Colonel A C J Wasage Colonel H C L Galappathti RSP USP, Colonel B G S Fernando USP psc, Colonel D U N Serasinghe RWP RSP, Colonel M A D J D Gunatilaka RSP USP, Colonel U S N K Perera RSP USP, Colonel G G A Gunasekara USP, Colonel K T P de Silva RSP psc, Colonel M P N A Muthumala USP psc, Colonel D P J C Jayawardene USP, Colonel K D M L Samaradiwakara RWP RSP psc, Colonel B P G K Baìasooriya RSP psc, Colonel K H N P Hannadige RWP RSP psc, Colonel M M Salwatura RWP RSP USP, Colonel K J N M P K Nawarathna RWP RSP, Colonel P N J S Fernando USP, Colonel S B W M N Samaradiwakara RSP USP, Colonel D M K Chakrawarthi RSP, Colonel D C C D R Waidyasekara RSP, Colonel K A D S K Dharmasena RWP, Colonel S I P Vidanagamage RSP lG, Colonel V M N Hettiarachchi RWP RSP, Colonel N D P Jayatilaka.
