Lieutenant general (abbreviated as Lt. Gen. and pronounced 'lef-tenant general') ( Sinhala: ලුතිනන් ජෙනරාල් ''Lutinan Jenaral'') is the second-highest rank of the

Sri Lanka Army ta, இலங்கை இராணுவம் , image = File:Sri Lanka Army Logo.png , image_size = 180px , caption = Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army , start_date ...

and generally it is the highest active rank as the Sri Lanka army do not have any appointment in the rank of full general but in the case of the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff, the rank of full general is given (if the chief is appointed from the army and not from the navy or the air force). It was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

, and is considered a

three-star rank An officer of three-star rank is a senior commander in many of the armed services holding a rank described by the NATO code of OF-8. The term is also used by some armed forces which are not NATO members. Typically, three-star officers hold the ...

. The rank of lieutenant general is held by the Commander of the Army. The rank was also held when an army officer served as the General Officer Commanding, Joint Operations Command between 1985 and 1991. Lieutenant-general is a superior rank to

major-general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

, but subordinate to a full

general A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

which is awarded to the Chief of the Defence Staff or as a ceremonial rank. The rank has a

NATO The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO, ; french: Organisation du traité de l'Atlantique nord, ), also called the North Atlantic Alliance, is an intergovernmental military alliance between 30 member states – 28 European and two No ...

rank code of OF-8, equivalent to a vice-admiral in the

Sri Lanka Navy ta, இலங்கை கடற்படை , image = Sri Lanka Naval Seal.png , image_size = 180px , caption = Emblem of Sri Lanka Navy , dates = , c ...

and an air marshal in the

Sri Lanka Air Force The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්‍රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...

(SLAF) and the air forces of many

Commonwealth A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. Historically, it has been synonymous with "republic". The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the ...

countries. Unlike other ranks, a Lieutenant-general does not have a maximum permissible service period to hold the rank before having to retire due to lack of promotion to the next rank.

Insignia

The rank insignia for rank is a Sri Lanka emblem over a crossed sabre and baton. The

Gorget patches Gorget patches (collar tabs, collar patches) are an insignia in the form of paired patches of cloth or metal on the collar of a uniform (gorget), used in the military and civil service in some countries. Collar tabs sign the military rank (group of ...

of the ''Lieutenant General officer pattern'', three gold/silver stars on scarlet background with a gold/silver button; worn on Dress No 2A, 4, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 6B, 7 and 8. The commander of the army of the rank of lieutenant general would have an oak leaf chain of two oak leaves in gold colour at the bottom of their gorget patches. The Gorget patches of the ''General Officers Large/Medium patterns'', of gold colour braided (bullion wire) three oak leaves on scarlet background with a gold button, worn by the officers in the rank of major general and above for Dress No1, No 3 and 3A.

History

In 1974, then commander of the army,

Sepala Attygalle General Deshamanya Don Sepala Attygalle, (14 October 1921 – 15 January 2001) was a Sri Lankan senior army officer, civil servant and diplomat. The longest serving Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1967–1977), he went on to serve as the Perm ...

was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-general. Since then all army commanders retired with the rank of Lieutenant-general and

Tissa Weeratunga General Tissa Indraka Weeratunga, VSV (August 29, 1930 – November 2003) was a Sri Lankan senior army officer. He was a former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1981 – 1985) and first General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Joint Oper ...

and

Cyril Ranatunga General S. Cyril Ranatunga, VSV (19 February 1930 – 16 June 2021) was a Sri Lanka Army officer. He served as Secretary of Defence, General Officer Commanding, Joint Operations Command and Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army during the 1980s ...

served as General Officer Commanding, Joint Operations Command with the rank of Lieutenant-general. Ranatunga was appointed directly to the rank of Lieutenant-general, without holding the rank of Major-general having been recalled from retirement. Since 1986, the serving commander of the army held the rank of Lieutenant-general. Since 1991, it became customary for all commanders of the army to be promoted to the rank of

General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

on the final day of service if they were retiring or appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff. In 2007, two former commanders of the army were also promoted to the rank of

. In addition to officers appointed as Army Commander or GOC, Joint Operations Command; four officers of the rank of

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, three of these have been posthumously as these officers either had been killed in action or assassinated.

List of Lieutenant Generals

*Lieutenant General

Denzil Kobbekaduwa Lieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP ( si, ඩෙන්සිල් ලක්ෂ්මණ් කොබ්බෑකඩුව; 27 July 1940 – 8 August 1992) was a senior Sri Lankan Army officer who served in t ...

(Promoted posthumously) *Lieutenant General

Parami Kulatunga Lieutenant General Parami Sugandika Bandara Kulatunga, RSP, VSV, USP ( Sinhala:පාරමී කුලතුංග) (9 October 1951 in Kandy – 26 June 2006) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer. He was serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff ...

(Promoted posthumously) *Lieutenant General

Nalin Angammana Lieutenant General Nalin K. B. Angammana ( si, ලුතිනන් ජෙනරාල් නලින් අංගම්මන) (1945 – 1995) was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer, who was the former General Officer Commanding, 3 Divisi ...

(Promoted posthumously) *Lieutenant General

Henry Athukorale Lieutenant General Henry Vijaya Athukorale, VSV, psc, FBIM (30 November 1930 – 21 December 2019) was a Sri Lankan senior army officer. He served as Commandant, Volunteer Force and Commander, Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration. Militar ...

(Retired - deceased) *Lieutenant General

Vikum Liyanage Lieutenant General H.L.V.M. Liyanage, popularly known as Vikum Liyanage, is a senior Sri Lanka Army officer. He is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army. Prior to become army commander, he was the 59th Chief of Staff of the Army. On 1 July ...

References

*Army, Sri Lanka. (1st Edition - October 1999). ''"50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999'',

Sri Lanka Army ta, இலங்கை இராணுவம் , image = File:Sri Lanka Army Logo.png , image_size = 180px , caption = Emblem of the Sri Lanka Army , start_date ...

External links

Sri Lanka ArmyMinistry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri LankaThree Service Commanders promoted : Official Government News Portal
{{Military of Sri Lanka Military ranks of the Sri Lanka Army

lieutenant generals A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

Insignia

History

List of Lieutenant Generals

See also

References

External links