Vikum Liyanage Explained

Honorific Prefix:Lieutenant General
Vikum Liyanage
විකුම් ලියනගේ
Serviceyears:1987–present
Rank: Lieutenant General
Allegiance: Sri Lanka
Commands:Commander of the Army
Chief of Staff of the Army
Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
Security Forces Headquarters - West
Security Forces Headquarters - Central
21 Division
215 Brigade
623 Brigade
8 Gajaba Regiment
Unit:Gajaba Regiment
Battles:Eelam War IV
Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards:
Spouse:Janaki Liyanage
Children:A daughter and a son.

Lieutenant General H.L.V.M. Liyanage, widely known as Vikum Liyanage, is a Sri Lanka Army general. He is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army serving from 1 June 2022.[1] [2] Prior to become the army commander, he was the 59th Chief of Staff of the Army. On 1 June 2022, Liyanage assumed as the 24th Commander of Sri Lanka Army.[3] Earlier, he served as the Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.[4]

Early life

Liyanage attended Vijaya College, Matale, where he was reported to excel in athletics and hockey, and was described as a bright student, earning accolades for his college.[5]

Military career

Liyanage as an Officer Cadet joined the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army on 27 October 1986 in the Regular Intake - 26 and followed basic military training at the prestigious Sri Lanka Military Academy at Diyatalawa and subsequently at the Pakistan Military Academy at Kakul. After successful completion of training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Gajaba Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army on 23 July 1987.[6]

He served as the second-in-command of the 10 Gajaba Regiment; he was the commanding officer of 8 Gajaba Regiment. He served as the sector commander of Operations Command (Colombo), acting brigade commanders of 225 and 553 Infantry Brigades; he served as the brigade commanders of 215, 542, 224, 221 and 623 infantry brigades. He was the division commander of 21 Division and also the commanders of the Security Forces Headquarters - West and Security Forces Headquarters - Central and later he served as the commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.

He has also served as director - psychological operations, director (doctrine and training) and director (operations and systems) in the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (OCDS); adjutant - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, staff officer - 2 (admin) - regimental centre of the Gajaba Regiment and staff officer 2 - directorate of staff duties at the Army HQ.

Personal life

Liyanage is a past pupil of Vijaya College, Matale.[7] [6] He is married to Janaki and the couple is blessed with a daughter and a son.

Awards and decorations

He has received some of the highest awards in the Sri Lankan armed forces, which includes the Rana Wickrama Padakkama and the Rana Sura Padakkama.

Rana Wickrama Padakkama (with two bars)
Rana Sura Padakkama (with bar)
Desha Putra SammanayaEastern Humanitarian Operations Medal (with clasp)Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal (with clasp)Purna Bhumi Padakkama
North and East Operations Medal (with clasp)Riviresa Campaign Services Medal (with clasp)50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal75th Independence Day Commemoration Medal[8]
Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary MedalSri Lanka Armed Services Long Service MedalSewabhimani PadakkamaSewa Padakkama

References

  1. Web site: Maj. Gen. Vikum Liyanage appointed as Army Commander. themorning.lk. 31 May 2022.
  2. Web site: Sri Lanka : Major General Vikum Liyanage appointed as the new Sri Lanka Army Commander . 2022-06-01 . www.colombopage.com.
  3. Web site: 2022-05-26 . Major General Vikum Liyanage to be appointed as New Army Commander . 2022-06-01 . NewsWire . en-US.
  4. Web site: 2021-12-07 . Major General Vikum Liyanage Appointed New Army Chief of Staff . 2022-06-01 . Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst . en.
  5. Web site: Commander of the Army Sri Lanka Army . 2023-12-02 . www.army.lk.
  6. Web site: 2022-06-01 . New Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage Assumes Duties . 2022-06-01 . Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst . en.
  7. Web site: Alma-Mater Felicitates Major General Vikum Liyanage . 2022-05-24 . army.lk.
  8. https://www.army.lk/news/he-president-confers-vsv-honours-pins-75th-independence-day-medal-tri-service-officers 75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal

External links