Lakshman Algama Explained

Chulasoka Lakshman Algama
ලක්ෂ්මන් අල්ගම
Birth Date:2 June 1940
Birth Place:Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Death Place:Ja-Ela, Sri Lanka
Nickname:Lucky
Allegiance: Sri Lanka
Serviceyears:1963-1995
Rank: Major General
Commands:Chief of Staff
Commander Security Forces Headquarters East (SF HQ (E))
Battles:1971 Insurrection,
Insurrection 1987-89,
Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards: Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
Uttama Seva Padakkama
Laterwork:United National Party activist

Major General Chulasoka Lakshman "Lucky" Algama, VSV, USP, ndc, psc (2 June 1940 – 18 December 1999) was a Sri Lankan army general. He was a former Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and a United National Party activist after retirement.

Education

Educated at Ananda College, Colombo, Algama graduated from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya.[1]

Military career

He was commissioned in the Ceylon Army on 10 May 1963 as a second lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Gemunu Watch. He served with the 3rd (Volunteer) Battalion, Gemunu Watch, Army Headquarters, Ministry of Defence, Mullaithivu and Trincomalee Districts; having been promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant in 1964, Captain in 1967, Major in 1974 and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1981. He was appointed first commanding officer of the 4th Battalion, Gemunu Watch on 27 December 1985 and served till 31 October 1986. In 1986, he was promoted to colonel and served as Colonel General Staff at Army Headquarters. Promoted to Brigadier, he was appointed brigade commander, 13 Brigade, thereafter military secretary. In 1989, he served as deputy to Major General Cecil Waidyaratne in Operation Combine which effectively subdued the Insurrection 1987-89. Attending National Defence College, India and was appointed the regimental commandant in 1990; deputy general officer commanding, 2 Division in 1991. In 1992, he was promoted to major general, he was appointed general officer commanding, 3 Division. In 1994, he was appointed Chief of Staff of Army and served till his resignation on 2 June 1995.[1]

Algama held several key posts in the army including commander of Security Forces Headquarters East (SF HQ (E)) and was responsible for enabling the government to hold elections in the eastern province in 1993.[1]

Assassination

He was killed in a suicide bombing that killed twelve people[2] [3] and injured another seven[4] at a political rally in Ja-Ela Colombo.[5] The Sri Lankan government claimed that he was killed by an LTTE suicide bomber.[4] [6] [7] [8]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Wijeysekera . Jith . Major General Lukshman Algama: Tailor-made strategist . 19 April 2020 . Island.
  2. Project Ploughshares: Armed Conflicts Report - Sri Lanka, last update: January 2007
  3. Web site: Suicide Attacks by the LTTE, www.satp.org . 2008-03-17 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924114749/http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/shrilanka/database/data_suicide_killings.htm . 2015-09-24 . dead .
  4. http://www.dailymirror.lk/2002/09/25/News/5.html Five indicted over alleged murder of General Algama,By Susitha R. Fernando
  5. http://www.sundaytimes.lk/991226/sitrep.html More in the millennium, With the war escalating, the new year looks grim
  6. http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/CA200101/20010116LTTE_behind_Algamas_killing.htm LTTE leader behind General Algama's killing arrested
  7. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/english/200101/16/eng20010116_60610.html Sri Lanka's Hard-core Tamil Tiger Rebel Arrested
  8. Web site: Fall of Elephant Pass and repercussions, By Shamindra Ferdinando . 17 March 2008 . 18 May 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110518073032/http://www.island.lk/2002/04/19/featur03.html . dead .