Daya Ratnayake

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General

Daya Ratnayake

WWV, RWP, RSP, USP
Nickname(s)Daya
AllegianceFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
Service/branchFlag of the Sri Lankan Army.png  Sri Lanka Army
Years of service1981 - 2015
Rank Sri Lanka-army-OF-9.svg General
Service number O/50913
Unit Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Commands held Commander of the Army,
Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army
Battles/wars Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards Weera wickrama vibhushanaya.svg Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya,
Weera wickrama vibhushanaya.svg Rana Wickrama Padakkama,
Rana sura medal.svg Rana Sura Padakkama,
Uttama Seva ribbon bar.svg Uttama Seva Padakkama,
Desha Putra Sammanaya ribbon bar.svg Desha Puthra Padakkama
Other workSecretary to the Ministry of Industries
Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority

General R. M. Daya Ratnayake, WWV, RWP and three Bars , RSP, USP is a former senior Sri Lanka Army officer who served as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army from 2013 to 2015. Following his retirement from the army, he served as the Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority and Secretary to the Ministry of Industriesiy. [1]

Contents

Education

He was educated at Maliyadeva College, Kurunegala.

Military career

He started his military career as an officer cadet in 1980 and received his basic training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1981 in the Sri Lanka Light Infantry. He thereafter completed the Commando Officers Course, Infantry Young Officers Course and the Battalion Support Weapon Course. He had completed the Junior Command and Senior Command Courses at the Army War College, Mhow. From January 1993 to January 1996, Ratnayake served as commanding officer of the 6th Battalion, Sri Lanka Light Infantry. He attended the graduated from Defence Service Command and Staff College, Bangladesh; the National Defence University, China and the Army Intelligence School, Fort Huachuca, United States. He has followed the Governance and Management of Defence Course at Cranfield University, UK, Higher Level Security Studies Diploma Course and Advanced Communication Skills Course in Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. He commanded the 6th Battalion Sri Light Infantry Regiment. He served as the General Officer Commanding of 23 Infantry Division in the Eastern province. He played important roles in the operations of Liberations of Vakare and Thoppigala. He also held the post of the Commissioner General Rehabilitation for rehabilitation of 12,000 ex-LTTE combatants under the Bureau of the Commissioner General Rehabilitation. His other notable appointments include Commanding Officer of Sri Lanka Military Academy and Director Media and Military Spokesman for the Ministry of Defence. [1] On 1 August 2013, he became the 20th commander of the Sri Lanka Army and promoted to the post of a Lieutenant General simultaneously. [2]

He was succeeded by Lieutenant General Crishantha de Silva in February 2015. [3] The outgoing commander was promoted to the rank of full general by President Maithripala Sirisena. [4]

Later work

He was appointed Chairman, Sri Lanka Ports Authority in 2019 by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and in 2021 he was appointed Secretary to the Ministry of Industries. [5] In January 2024, he joined the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) party and was appointed as the party’s senior advisor on state affairs. [6]

Family

He is married to Priyadarshani Damayanthi and has two sons and a daughter. [7]

Awards and decorations

He got many awards including Weera Wickrema Vibushanaya (WWV), Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) (Awarded four times for Exceptional Gallantry), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) (Awarded four times for Gallantry), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) (For distinguished conduct) and Desha Puthra Padakkama (DPP) (For wounded in combat). He has been recognized as the most decorated officer to have been made the commander.[ citation needed ]

Weera wickrama vibhushanaya.svg Rana wickrama medal.svg Rana sura medal.svg

Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal bar.svg Uttama Seva ribbon bar.svg Desha Putra Sammanaya ribbon bar.svg Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal ribbon bar.svg

Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal ribbon bar.svg Purna Bhumi Padakkama ribbon bar.svg North and East Operations Medal ribbon bar.svg Vadamarachchi Operation Medal ribbon bar.svg

Riviresa Campaign Services Medal ribbon bar.svg 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal.svg Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal ribbon bar.svg Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal ribbon bar.svg

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References

  1. 1 2 "New Army Commander Lt Gen Daya Ratnayake assumes duties". Daily News. 1 Aug 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 15 Dec 2013.
  2. ↑ "Major General Daya Ratnayake - 20th Army Commander from 1st of August". Asian Tribune. 14 Jun 2013. Retrieved 16 Dec 2013.
  3. ↑ "Major General A.W.J.C De Silva appointed as new Army Commander".
  4. ↑ "Outgoing Commander Promoted to Rank of General".
  5. ↑ "Secretaries to the Ministries". presidentsoffice.gov.lk. President's office. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Perera, Yohan. "Former Army Commander Daya Ratnayake joins SJB". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Commander of the Army". www.army.lk. Archived from the original on 2013-12-16. Retrieved 15 Dec 2013.
Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the Army
1 August 2013 - 21 February 2015		Succeeded by
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