Lieutenant-general (Sri Lanka)

Lieutenant general (abbreviated LTGEN and pronounced 'lef-tenant general') is the second-highest active rank of the Sri Lanka Army. It was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general, and is considered a three-star rank.

For other countries that use similar military rank, see Lieutenant general.
Lieutenant General
Country Sri Lanka
Service branch Sri Lanka Army
AbbreviationLt Gen
RankThree Star
NATO rankOF- 8
Formation1949
Next higher rankGeneral
Next lower rankMajor General
Equivalent ranks Sri Lanka Navy - Vice admiral
 Sri Lanka Air Force - Air marshal
Comparative military ranks in English
Armies Navies Air forces
Commissioned officers
Field marshal or
General of the army		 Admiral of
the fleet		 Marshal of
the air force
General Admiral Air chief marshal
Lieutenant general Vice admiral Air marshal
Major general Rear admiral Air vice-marshal
Brigadier or
brigadier general		 Commodore Air commodore
Colonel Captain Group captain
Lieutenant colonel Commander Wing commander
Major or
commandant		 Lieutenant
commander		 Squadron leader
Captain Lieutenant Flight lieutenant
Lieutenant or
first lieutenant		 Lieutenant
junior grade or
sub-lieutenant		 Flying officer
Second lieutenant Ensign or
midshipman		 Pilot officer
Officer cadet Officer cadet Flight cadet
Enlisted grades
Warrant officer or
sergeant major		 Warrant officer or
chief petty officer		 Warrant officer
Sergeant Petty officer Sergeant
Corporal or
bombardier		 Leading seaman Corporal
Private or
gunner or
trooper		 Seaman Aircraftman or
airman

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, but subordinate to a full general which is awarded to the Chief of the Defence Staff or as a ceremonial rank. The rank has a NATO rank code of OF-8, equivalent to a vice-admiral in the Sri Lanka Navy and an air marshal in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the air forces of many Commonwealth 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.[1]

Insignia

The rank insignia for rank is a Sri Lanka emblem over a crossed sabre and baton, and it follows British style and Indian style gorget patchs on different uniforms.

History

In 1974, then commander of the army, Sepala Attygalle was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-general. Since then all army commanders retired with the rank of Lieutenant-general and Tissa Weeratunga and Cyril Ranatunga 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 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 General. Four officers of the rank of Major General have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, three of these have been posthumously for officers either killed in action or assassinated.

List of Lieutenant Generals

See also

References
  1. "RETIREMENT - REGULATION PROCESS AND PRACTICE". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
  • Army, Sri Lanka. (1st Edition - October 1999). "50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999, Sri Lanka Army. ISBN 955-8089-02-8
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