Two veteran officers assume duties as new Army & Navy CofS respectively

Two veteran Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) officers were appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the respective military establishments last week.

Major General Wasantha Senarath Bandara assumed duties as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army recently on Monday.

He served as the Commander of the Security Forces Headquarters, Jaffna until his new appointment.

Educated at Vidyartha College, Kandy, he joined Sri Lanka Army in January 1986 as an Officer Cadet. He was later promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant and attached to the Gemunu Watch.

Major General Bandara is a highly decorated infantry officer. He has been awarded with the elite ‘Rana Wickrama Paddakkama’ on three occasions, with ‘Rana Sura Paddakkama’ two times and with ‘Desha Putra Sammanaya’ three times in recognition of his gallantry invaluable and selfless dedication in facing the enemy in the battle field.

He has served as Commanding Officer 5th Gemunu Watch, C/O Infantry Training Centre, Colonel General Staff 57 Division, Commander 572 Offensive Brigade during the Humanitarian Operations, Commander 111 Brigade, Director Independent Directorate at Army Headquarters and General Officer Commanding 61 Infantry Division and 54 Infantry Division.

From 2015 to 2017, he served as Defence Advisor to the Sri Lanka’s High Commission in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka Navy’ new Chief of Staff, Rear Admiral Sumith Weerasinghe, assumed duties last week.

He is an old boy of Badulla Central College, joined the Sri Lanka Navy executive branch in 1985 as an Officer Cadet of 13th intake. He completed his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee and was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in May 1987.

He followed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course in India in 1988 and since then had been gradually promoted to subsequent ranks in his naval career, finally being elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral on October 16, 2016.

He had commanded Fast Attack Craft as well as Sri Lanka Naval Ships such as Jayasagara and Sayurala. Apart from that, among the prominent appointments he held were: Director Naval Welfare, Commandant SLNS Nipuna, Deputy Area Commander Southern and Northern Naval areas, Director Naval Personnel, Commander Southeastern and Eastern Naval Commands, Director General Services and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force. He also served as Deputy Chief of Staff and Commander Western Naval Area.

He followed advanced courses in India, the United States and Bangladesh and has specialized in Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) at INS Venduruthy in Kochi, India. He is an alumnus of Bangladesh University of Professionals from which he was conferred the Master’s Degree in Strategy and Development Studies.

He has been awarded a several medals including ‘Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya’ for distinguished service, ‘Uttama Seva Padakkama’ for valuable service and dedication to duty.