News
Gen. Balagalle passes away
Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Chief of Defence Staff, General (Retd.) Lionel Balagalle, passed away on Thursday at the age of 75. He became the 16th Army Commander in August 2000. Gen.
Balagalle was appointed the Chief of Defence Staff in October 2003, the first time a serving commander was made a Chief of the Armed Forces.
Balagalle enlisted as an Officer Cadet in 1965 and was commissioned in 1967 as a second Lieutenant and posted to the 4th Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery.