Major-general (Sri Lanka)

Major general (abbreviated Maj Gen) is a senior rank in the Sri Lanka Army, and was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of major general. It is the third-highest active rank of the Sri Lanka Army (the rank of field marshal not being held by any currently serving officer), and is considered to be equivalent to a two-star rank. A major general commands a division or the equivalent.

For other countries which use this rank, see Major general.
Major General
Country Sri Lanka
Service branch Sri Lanka Army
AbbreviationMaj Gen
RankTwo Star
NATO rankOF- 7
Formation1949
Next higher rankLieutenant General
Next lower rankBrigadier
Equivalent ranks Sri Lanka Navy - Rear admiral
 Sri Lanka Air Force - Air vice-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 Director of the National Cadet Corps holds the rank of major general. From 1958 to 1974, the Commander of the Army held the rank of Major General.

Major general is a higher rank than brigadier, but lower than lieutenant general.[lower-alpha 1] The rank has a NATO rank code of OF-7, equivalent to a rear-admiral in the Sri Lanka Navy or an air vice-marshal in the Sri Lanka Air Force or the air forces of many Commonwealth countries.

The first Ceylonese officer to be promoted to the rank was Anton Muttukumaru, who was the first Ceylonese Commander of the Army. The rank of major general is considered a general officer and includes all entitlements associated with it. These include an Aide-de-camp, use of two star designation. Most appointments of the rank of major general comes with a commandant's quarters or residence. An officer serving as a major general would be retired after three years in the substantive rank, which is the maximum permissible service in the rank, due to lack of vacancies or not been selected for further career progression.[1]

The ceremonial uniform of the Serjeant-at-arms of the Sri Lankan Parliament would be similar to a No. 1 Dress uniform of a major general with varied gorget patchs and epaulette similar to a flag officer of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Insignia

The rank insignia is a pip over a crossed sword and baton, and it follows British style and Indian style gorget patchs on different uniforms.

List of Major Generals
Main articles: List of Sri Lankan Major generals and List of Sri Lankan generals
  • Major General Anton Muttukumaru (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General H. W. G. Wijeyekoon (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General Richard Udugama (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General Bertram Heyn (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General Y. Balaretnarajah(Retired)
  • Major General T. Paranagama (Retired)
  • Major General Lucky Wijayaratne †
  • Major General Larry Wijeratne †
  • Major General Vijaya Wimalaratne †
  • Major General Lakshman Algama(Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General Gemunu Kulatunge(Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General Sumith Balasuriya(Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General D.S.K. Wijesooriya (Retired)
  • Major General T. N. De Silva (Retired)
  • Major General Jayantha de S. Jayaratne(Deceased)
  • Major General D. W. Hapuarachchi (Retired)
  • Major General Jaliya Nammuni (Retired)
  • Major General Ananda Weerasekara(Retired)
  • Major General H. Somadasa Hapuarachchi (Retired-Deceased)
  • Major General Daya Wijayasinghe (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General D. R. Aruna B. Jayatilleke (Deceased)
  • Major General W. A. Asoka De Silva (Retired)
  • Major General Sanath Karunaratne (Retired)
  • Major General Chandana Rajaguru (Retired)
  • Major General E H Samaratunga (Retired)
  • Major General GVD Udaya Perera (Retired)
  • Major General Tuan Fadyl Meedin (Retired)
  • Major General Lalith Daulagala (Retired)
  • Major General Ranjith de Silva (Retired)
  • Major General Chagi Gallage
  • Major General Laksiri A. D. Amaratunge (Retired)
  • Major General K. A. M. G. Kularatne (Retired)
  • Major General Jayanath C.P. Lokuketagodage (Retired)
  • Major General Parakrama Pannipitiya(Retired)
  • Major General Athula Jayawardane(Retired)
  • Major General Nandana Udawatta (Retired)
  • Major General D. Kalupahana(Retired)
  • Major General C. H. Fernando(Retired)
  • Major General Percy Fernando †
  • Major General Dr. Chelliah Thurairaja(Retired)
  • Major General Udaya Nanayakkara(Retired)
  • Major General G. L. Sigera (Retired -Deceased)
  • Major General Susantha Mendis †
  • Major General Ananda Hamangoda †
  • Major General Saliya Kulatunge (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General Lalith Wijetunge (Retired)
  • Major General Janaka Walgama
  • Major General Kamal Gunaratne(Retired)
  • Major General Nirmal Dharmaratne
  • Major General Ravi Ratnasingam
  • Major General Sumedha Perera(Retired)
  • Major General Lalith Abeywardena (Retired)
  • Major General M K D Perera
  • Major General Nandana Senadeera
  • Major General Ashok Weerasinghe (Retired)
  • Major General Janaka Perera
  • Major General S. M. Asoka Jayawardena (Retired)
  • Major General Kamal Fernando (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General PMR Bandara (Retired)
  • Major General Samantha Sooriyabandara (Retired - Deceased)
  • Major General Jagath Dias (Retired)
  • Major General Athula Galagamage (Retired)
  • Major General Prasanna de Silva (Retired)
  • Major General Laksiri Waduge
  • Major General Kithsiri Malporu (Retired)
  • Major General Rasika Fernando
  • Major General Jagath Gunawardena

See also

Notes
  1. Many people are confused that "major general" is a lower rank than "lieutenant general", because they expect it to reflect that "major" is higher rank than "lieutenant". The reason is that the title "major general" is derived from "sergeant major general" while "lieutenant" means deputy.

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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