Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)
No Commander Took office Left office Time in office Unit
1 Sinclair , Roderick Brigadier The Earl of Caithness CBE , DSO ( 1906-1965 ) 20 October 1949 17 May 1952 2 years , 210 days Gordon Highlanders
2 Reid , Francis Brigadier Sir Francis Reid CBE ( 1900-1970 ) 18 May 1952 8 February 1955 2 years , 266 days Royal Artillery
3 Muttukumaru , Anton Major General Anton Muttukumaru OBE , ED ( 1908-2001 ) 9 February 1955 31 December 1959 4 years , 326 days Ceylon Light Infantry
4 Wijeyekoon , H. Major General H. W. G. Wijeyekoon OBE , ED ( 1911-1969 ) 1 January 1960 31 December 1963 3 years , 364 days Ceylon Light Infantry
5 Udugama , Richard Major General Deshamanya Richard Udugama MBE ( 1911-1995 ) 1 January 1964 10 November 1966 2 years , 313 days Ceylon Light Infantry
6 Heyn , Bertram Major General Deshabandu Bertram Heyn ( 1912-1998 ) 11 November 1966 30 September 1967 323 days Ceylon Light Infantry
7 Attygalle , Sepala Lieutenant General Deshamanya Sepala Attygalle LVO ( 1922-2001 ) 1 October 1967 13 October 1977 10 years , 12 days Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
8 Perera , Denis Lieutenant General Deshamanya Denis Perera VSV ( 1930-2013 ) 14 October 1977 13 October 1981 3 years , 364 days Sri Lanka Engineers
9 Weeratunga , Tissa Lieutenant General Tissa Weeratunga VSV ( 1930-2003 ) 14 October 1981 11 February 1985 3 years , 120 days Gemunu Watch
10 Seneviratne , Nalin Lieutenant General Nalin Seneviratne VSV ( 1931-2009 ) 12 February 1985 15 August 1988 3 years , 185 days Sri Lanka Engineers
11 Wanasinghe , Hamilton Lieutenant General Hamilton Wanasinghe VSV 16 August 1988 15 November 1991 3 years , 91 days Sri Lanka Artillery
12 Waidyaratne , Cecil Lieutenant General Cecil Waidyaratne VSV ( 1938-2001 ) 16 November 1991 31 December 1993 2 years , 45 days Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
13 Silva , G. Lieutenant General G. H. De Silva RWP , VSV , USP ( born 1940 ) 1 January 1994 30 April 1996 2 years , 120 days Gemunu Watch
14 Daluwatte , Rohan Lieutenant General Rohan Daluwatte RWP , RSP , VSV , USP ( 1941-2018 ) 1 May 1996 15 December 1998 2 years , 228 days Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
15 Weerasooriya , C. Lieutenant General C. S. Weerasooriya RWP , RSP , VSV , USP 16 December 1998 24 August 2000 1 year , 252 days Sri Lanka Artillery
16 Balagalle , Lionel Lieutenant General Lionel Balagalle RWP , RSP , VSV , USP , VSP 25 August 2000 30 June 2004 3 years , 310 days Sri Lanka Artillery
17 Kottegoda , Shantha Lieutenant General Shantha Kottegoda WWV , RWP , RSP , VSV , USP , VSP ( born 1949 ) 1 July 2004 5 December 2005 1 year , 157 days Sri Lanka Light Infantry
18 Fonseka , Sarath Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka RWP , RSP , VSV , USP ( born 1950 ) 6 December 2005 15 July 2009 3 years , 221 days Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
19 Jayasuriya , Jagath Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya VSV , USP 15 July 2009 1 August 2013 4 years , 17 days Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
20 Ratnayake , Daya Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake WWV , RWP , RSP , USP 1 August 2013 21 February 2015 1 year , 204 days Sri Lanka Light Infantry
List of Commanders ( including Commanders of the Ceylon Army )
The Commander of the Army is the title of the professional head of the Sri Lanka Army. The Army Commander is assisted by the Chief of Staff of the Army. The current Commander of the Army is Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.