Palaly is a small town in the North Sri Lankan city of Jaffna. It has an important airport. Both military and small civilian aircraft land there. It is one of the main transport service connections Jaffna Peninsula with the rest of the country.
Operation Pawan was the code name assigned to the operation by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) to take control of Jaffna from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), better known as the Tamil Tigers, in late 1987 to enforce the disarmament of the LTTE as a part of the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord. In brutal fighting lasting about three weeks, the IPKF took control of the Jaffna Peninsula from the LTTE, something that the Sri Lankan Army had tried but failed to do. Supported by Indian Army tanks, helicopter gunships and heavy artillery, the IPKF routed the LTTE at the cost of 214 soldiers.
Major General Sarath Munasinghe, RWP, RSP, USP, ndc, psc, SLA was a Sri Lankan General and a politician. He had served in the Sri Lanka Army, becoming Commander Security Forces Headquarters Jaffna and went on to become the Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament.
The 55 Division is an elite division of the Sri Lanka Army. A principal offensive division it is currently deployed for combat operations in the Jaffna Peninsula and is under the command of Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna.
Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna (SFHQ-J) is a regional command of the Sri Lanka Army, that is responsible for the operational deployment and command all army units stationed in and around the Jaffna Peninsula in the Northern Province.
The 53 Division is an elite division of the Sri Lanka Army. A principal offensive division, it is currently deployed for combat operations in the Jaffna Peninsula and is under the command of Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna.
Major General Nandana Udawatta, RSP, USP, psc, SLAC is a Sri Lankan general, who is the current Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna. He has served as the Master General Ordnance, Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Mullaittivu and was the General Officer Commanding, 59 Division during the SLA offensives in the Wanni region during 2008 - 2009 period that led to a major victory for the SLA over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Sri Lankan civil war.
Palaly Military Base is a military base located in Palaly, Northern Province of Sri Lanka, and the largest on the Jaffna Peninsula. The base houses the Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna and is in close proximity to the naval base SLNS Uttara at Kankasanturai and air base SLAF Palaly. The Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps maintains a base hospital in Palali, and hosts the 3rd Regiment of the Sri Lanka Signals Corps as well.
Major General Gammanpila Arachchige Chandrasiri, RWP, USP, ndc, psc, SLAC is a Sri Lankan general and a provincial governor. He is the Governor of Northern Province. he was the former Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna ; General Officer Commanding, 52 Division;, Director General - General Staff, Joint Operations Headquarters; Brigade Commander Armoured Brigade and Commander, Area Headquarters Mannar.
Major General Janaka Walgama RSP,VSV, USP,ndu, psc is the Military Adviser to the Sri Lanka's Permanent Representation to the United Nations at New York.
Major General T. N. De Silva, USP, psc, SLAC is a Sri Lankan general, who was the former General Officer Commanding, 21 Division;, Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Brigade Commander Armoured Brigade and Director, National Cadet Corps.
Major General Y. Balaretnarajah, VSV, USP, ndc is a retired senior Sri Lanka Army officer and former Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He has also been Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, GOC- 1 Division, Brigade Commander of the Armoured-, 21- and 24 Brigades and Commander, Jaffna Security Forces.
General Lionel P. Balagalle RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, VSP was the 16th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army between 1999 and 2004. When he retired from his post on 15 July 2009, he was appointed the Chief of Defence staff of the Sri Lankan armed forces.
The 52 Division is a division of the Sri Lanka Army. Established on 24 August 1995, the division is currently based in Mirusuvil in the Northern Province. The division is a part of Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna.
Major General K. Jagath Alwis, RWP, RSP, USP, ndc, psc is a Sri Lankan General. He is the current Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna and the Colonel Commandant of the Military Intelligence Corps. He had served as Sri Lankan Deputy Ambassador to Israel and Commander of the President's Guard.
Major General Jeewaka Ruwan Kulatunga, RSP, ndc, psc, is a Sri Lankan Army major general who is also the Commandant of Defence Services Command and Staff College Sri Lanka.
Lieutenant General N.U.M. Mahesh W. Senanayke, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, psc is a senior Sri Lanka Army officer and a military engineer. He is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, and Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Regiment. A veteran of all four phases of the Sri Lankan Civil War, he has served in both its Northern- and Eastern theatres.
