Thousands elevated to higher ranks

More than 14,000 Sri Lanka Army officers and other ranks received promotions to coincide with the National War Heroes’ Commemoration Day.

Accordingly, 177 officers and 14,617 other ranks of the army were promoted this week.

Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa promoted 177 officers. The promotions were made with the concurrence of the Ministry of Defence and the recommendation of Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, Lt. Gen. Shavendra Silva.

Among the newly-promoted officers are five new Majors General, four Brigadiers of Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, 39 Lieutenant Colonels, 69 Majors and 60 Lieutenants.

The promoted Majors General and Brigadiers are Major General C.U Marasinghe, Major General T.J Kodithuwakku, Major General H.P Ranasinghe, Major General A.P.I Fernando, Major General C.D Weerasuriya, Brigadier S.N Samarawickrama, Brigadier H.M.N.B Herath, Brigadier N.G.S Thilakarathne and Brigadier K.N Perera.

The army added that the promotion of 14,617 other ranks is also the highest number of such promotions granted on one occasion in the army’s history.