List of Sri Lankan generals and brigadiers explained

This list is for people who ranked General or Brigadier in the Sri Lanka Army. It is not complete - please add to it if you know of any omissions.

Hence, in the lists below:

• 5* = Field Marshal
• 4* = General
• 3* = Lieutenant General
• 2* = Major General
• 1* = Brigadier

Field marshal

• Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 2005-09.^[1]

General

Regular Force

• General Deshamanya Sepala Attygalle - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1967-77.^[2]
• General T. I. Weerathunga - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1981-85.^[3]
• General Cyril Ranatunga - on the retired list. General Officer Commanding, Joint Operations Command 1985-88.^[4]
• General Deshamanya Denis Perera - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1977-81.^[5]
• General Nalin Seneviratne - on the retied list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1985-88.^[6]
• General Hamilton Wanasinghe - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1988-91.^[7]
• General Cecil Waidyaratne - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1991-93.^[8]
• General G. H. de Silva - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1994-96.^[9]
• General Rohan Daluwatte - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1996-98.^[10]
• General Srilal Weerasooriya - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 1998-00.^[11]
• General L. P. Balagalle - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 2000-04.^[12]
• General Shantha Kottegoda - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 2004-05.^[13]
• General Jagath Jayasuriya - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 2009-13.^[14]
• General Daya Ratnayake - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 2013-15.^[15]
• General Crishantha de Silva - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 2015-17.^[16]
• General Mahesh Senanayake - on the retired list. Commander, Sri Lanka Army 2017-19.^[17]
• General Kamal Gunaratne - on the retired list. General Officer Commanding, 53 Division.^[18]
• General Shavendra Silva

Generals of the Volunteer Force

Three former members of the volunteer force have been awarded the honorary rank of General of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.

• General Sir John Kotelawala — Former Prime Minister of Ceylon and Minister of Defense and External Affairs.
• General Ranjan Wijeratne — Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and State Minister for Defence.
• General Anuruddha Ratwatte — Former Minister of Power and Energy and Deputy Minister for Defence

Lieutenant general

• Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa
• Lieutenant General Parami Kulatunga
• Lieutenant General Nalin Angammana
• Lieutenant General Henry Athukorale (Retired - Deceased)
• Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage

Major general

1950 - 1969

• Major General Anton Muttukumaru (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General H. W. G. Wijeyekoon (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Richard Udugama (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Bertram Heyn (Retired - Deceased)

1970 - 1999

• Major General C. A. M. N. Silva (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Jayantha de S. Jayaratne (Deceased)
• Major General C. H. Fernando (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General S. M. A. Jayawardena (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General J. R. S. de Silva (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Y. Balaretnarajah (Retired)
  • Major General Larry Wijeratne Major General Tilak Paranagama (Retired)
• Major General Lakshman Algama (Retired - Assassinated)
• Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne
  • Major General Lucky Wijayaratne Major General Gemunu Kulatunge (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Janaka Perera (Retired - Assassinated)
• Major General T. N. De Silva (Retired)
• Major General Dr. Chelliah Thurairaja (Retired)
• Major General Nihal Jayakody (Deceased)

2000 - present

• Major General Percy Fernando
• Major General Prasanna Chandrasekera (Retired)
• Major General D. S. K. Wijesooriya (Retired)
• Major General D. W. Hapuarachchi (Retired)
• Major General Jaliya Nammuni (Retired)
• Major General Ananda Weerasekara (Retired)
• Major General H. Somadasa Hapuarachchi (Retired-Deceased)
• Major General Daya Wijeyesinghe (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General D. R. Aruna B. Jayatilleke (Deceased)
• Major General W. A. Asoka De Silva (Retired)
• Major General Sanath Karunaratne (Retired)
• Major General Chandana Rajaguru (Retired)
• Major General E. H. Samaratunga (Retired)
• Major General Bathiya Daulagala (Retired)
• Major General G.V.D. Udaya Perera (Retired)
• Major General Tuan Fadyl Meedin (Retired)
• Major General Lalith Daulagala (Retired)
• Major General L. L. A. Fernando (Retired)
• Major General Ranjith de Silva (Retired)
• Major General Sumith Balasuriya (Retired)
• Major General G S Padumadasa (Retired)
• Major General MHP Mihindukulasuriya(Retired)
• Major General Kumudu Perera (Retired)
• Major General Chagi Gallage (Retired)
• Major General Laksiri A. D. Amaratunge (Retired)
• Major General K. A. M. G. Kularatne (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Jayanath C. P. Lokuketagodage (Retired)
• Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya (Retired)
• Major General Athula Jayawardane (Retired)
• Major General Nandana Udawatta (Retired)
• Major General D. Kalupahana (Retired)
• Major General Udaya Nanayakkara (Retired)
• Major General G. L. Sigera (Retired -Deceased)
  • • Major General Susantha Mendis Major General Ananda Hamangoda Major General Saliya Kulatunge (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Lalith Wijetunge (Retired)
• Major General Janaka Walgama
• Major General Nirmal Dharmaratne
• Major General Ravi Ratnasingam
• Major General Sumedha Perera (Retired)
• Major General Lalith Abeywardena (Retired)
• Major General Nandana Senadeera
• Major General Ashok Weerasinghe (Retired)
• Major General S. M. Asoka Jayawardena (Retired)
• Major General Kamal Fernando (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General P. M. R. Bandara (Retired)
• Major General Samantha Sooriyabandara (Retired - Deceased)
• Major General Jagath Dias (Retired)
• Major General Athula Galagamage (Retired)
• Major General Prasanna de Silva (Retired)
• Major General Laksiri Waduge (Retired
• Major General Dammi Hewage
• Major General Duleep Wickremanayake (Retired)
• Major General M. K. D. Perera
• Major General Kithsiri Malporu (Retired)
• Major General Rasika Fernando
• Major General Jagath Gunawardena
• Major General W. L. P. W. Perera
• Major General Subashana Welikala (Deceased)
• Major General KAP Jagath Ratnayake
• Major General Priyanka Fernando
• Major General K.P.Nugegoda (Retired)
• Major General K.A.D.Sanath L.Perera (Retired)
• Major General A.K. Sooriyabandara
• Major General Lohan Gunawardena
• Major General Anton Wijendra
• Major General M.A. Muthalib
• Major General K.B. Egodawala
• Major General S.T.T. Jayasundera
• Major General K. Bohran
• Major General Sunil Tennekoon
• Major General S. Seniveratne
• Major General Chula Senivaratne
• Major General Sarath Munasinghe
• Major General Udena Gunawardana
• Major General K.A.M.G. Gunaratne
• Major General P.A. Karunathilleke
• Major General A.M.U.Seneviratne
• Major General Gemunu Kulathunga
• Major General Jayantha Ranaweera
• Major General Hema Thibbutumunuwe
• Major General Nimal Krishnaratne
• Major General Lal Fernando
• Major General Seevali Wanigasekara
• Major General Gamini Jayasundara
• Major General Priyantha Samaratunga
• Major General M.A. Muthalib

Volunteer Force

• Major General N. P. D. Palpola
• Major General S. V. Panabokke
• Major General S. A. Kulatunga
• Major General A. M. B. Aumunugama
• Major General W. A. D. S. Silva
• Major General W. B. Soyza
• Major General A. C. Obeysekara
• Major General W. D. L. P. Wickramasinghe
• Major General W. H. D. Mahanada
• Major General L. F. Kasthuriarachchi
• Major General K. P. Nugegoda
• Major General J. D. C. G. Jayasinghe
• Major General S. N. Samarawickrama
• Major General W. M. D. S. K. Gunawardhana

Brigadier

1950 - 1969

• Brigadier Herbert Clifford Serasinghe (Retired - Deceased)

1970 - 1999

• Brigadier P. D. Ramayanayake (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier M. A. Jayaweera (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier E. T. De Z Abeysekera (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier Leonard Merlyn Wickramasuriya (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier T. S. B. Sally (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier S. B. Miyanadeniya (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier J. G. Balthazar (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier Ariyasinghe Ariyapperuma
• Brigadier H F Rupasinghe (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier B. K. V. J. E. Rodrigo (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier Dennis Hapugalle (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier G. R. Jayasinghe (Retired)
• Brigadier Donald Hewagama (Retired)
• Brigadier Nimal Fernando (Retired)
• Brigadier R. T. Tambiah (Retired - Deceased)

2000 - present

• Brigadier C.S.D. Gunasinghe
• Brigadier Bhathiya Jayatilleka
• Brigadier Rohitha Neil Akmeemana
• Brigadier S.B. Miyanadeniya
• Brigadier S.A.M.T. Seneviratne (Deceased)
• Brigadier M. H. Gunaratne
• Brigadier R. M. Jayasinghe
• Brigadier Nihal Hapuarachchi
• Brigadier Parry Liyanage
• Brigadier Udaya Ariyarathna
• Brigadier Gamini Angammana
• Brigadier Sarath Embawa
• Brigadier D.N. Wijesuriya (Retired - Deceased)
• Brigadier J. S. U. Katugampola
• Brigadier Sudantha Thilakarathne
• Brigadier Sanjaya Wanasinghe
• Brigadier D H M R B Tammita
• Brigadier P.N Liyanage (Retired - Deceased)

1950 - 1969

• Brigadier Christopher Allan Hector Perera Jayawardena (Retired - Deceased)

1970 - 1969

• Brigadier W. O. C. De Alwis (Retired - Deceased)

1980 - 1989

• Brigadier C. N. Panabokke (Retired - Deceased)

Notes and References

1. https://web.archive.org/web/20220324013913/https://www.army.lk/news/nation-salutes-war-veteran-general-sarath-fonseka-retd-conferring-field-marshal-rank-0 Nation Salutes War Veteran, General Sarath Fonseka (Retd) Conferring Field Marshal Rank
2. https://web.archive.org/web/20030408064137/https://www.ceylonmedals.com/attygalle_pr2.htm Deshamanya General Don Sepala Attygalle LVO ADC idc psc
3. https://web.archive.org/web/20150618042042/http://www.gemunuesra.lk/general_bull_weeratunga_remembered.html GENERAL TI WEERATHUNGA VSV ndc jssc (Retd) REMEMBERED
4. https://web.archive.org/web/20220808071316/https://alt.army.lk/slac/content/farewell-mighty-cavalryman-general-cyril-ranatunga FAREWELL TO A MIGHTY CAVALRYMAN: GENERAL CYRIL RANATUNGA
5. https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2014/08/17/fea02.asp Gen. Dennis Perera Memorial Oration: ‘A visionary military leader who founded a professional army’
6. https://web.archive.org/web/20211201062351/https://www.army.lk/news/general-gdgn-seneviratne-retd-vsv-ndc GENERAL G.D.G.N. SENEVIRATNE (RETD) VSV NDC
7. https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/opinion/i-said-i-am-the-army-commander-not-you/172-33902 I SAID, ‘I AM THE ARMY COMMANDER NOT YOU’
8. https://archives.dailynews.lk/2002/12/18/fea05.html Appreciations : General L.D. Cecil. E. Waidyaratne - revered public figure
9. https://www.dailymirror.lk/print/breaking-news/Unfair-to-level-war-crime-allegations-Gen-Gerry-de-Silva/108-118205 Unfair to level war crime allegations: Gen. Gerry de Silva
10. https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2018/08/28/local/160933/death-former-army-commander-gen-rohan-daluwatte Death of former Army Commander Gen. Rohan Daluwatte
11. https://web.archive.org/web/20090228122311/https://www.sundaytimes.lk/981227/news3.html Army Chief begins on positive note
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20231031101555/https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=94365 Former army commander Gen. Lionel Balagalle passes away
13. https://web.archive.org/web/20190502112336/https://archives.dailynews.lk/2005/12/06/news14.htm New Army Commander from today
14. https://web.archive.org/web/20170908231008/https://www.army.lk/news/president-promotes-army-commander-four-star-general-0 President Promotes Army Commander to Four Star General
15. https://web.archive.org/web/20150226171658/https://www.army.lk/detailed.php?NewsId=9332 In Formal Military Ceremony Outgoing Commander Gen Ratnayake Hands Over Symbolic Sword to His Successor
16. https://web.archive.org/web/20170628061739/https://www.adaderana.lk/news/41581/crishanthe-de-silva-promoted-to-four-star-general-appointed-cds Crishanthe De Silva promoted to four star General; appointed CDS
17. https://web.archive.org/web/20211121003323/https://island.lk/gen-mahesh-senanayake-inducted-into-intl-hall-of-fame-at-fort-leavenworth/ Gen. Mahesh Senanayake inducted into Intl Hall of Fame at Fort Leavenworth
18. https://archives1.dailynews.lk/2020/12/30/local/237406/defence-secretary-army-commander-promoted-generals Defence Secretary, Army Commander promoted as Generals