Lieutenant General

Vikum Liyanage
විකුම් ලියනගේ

RWP, RSP, ndu
Liyanage at New Delhi in December 2023
Allegiance Sri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Army
Years of service1987 - present
Rank Lieutenant General
UnitGajaba Regiment
Commands heldCommander of the Army
Chief of Staff of the Army
21 Division
215 Brigade
623 Brigade
8 Gajaba Regiment
Battles/warsEelam War IV
Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards
Rana Wickrama Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama
Spouse(s)Janaki Liyanage
ChildrenA daughter and a son

Lieutenant General H.L.V.M. Liyanage, widely known as Vikum Liyanage, is a Sri Lanka Army General. He is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army serving from 1 June 2022.[1][2] Prior to become the army commander, he was the 59th Chief of Staff of the Army. On 1 June 2022, Liyanage assumed as the 24th Commander of Sri Lanka Army.[3] Earlier, he served as the Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force as a Major General.[4]

Early life

Liyanage attended Vijaya College, Matale, where he was reported to excel in athletics and hockey, and was described as a bright student, earning accolades for his college.[5]

Military career

Liyanage joined the Sri Lanka Army as an officer cadet on 27 October 1986 in the Regular Intake – 26. He got cadet training in the Sri Lanka Military Academy and in the Officers Training School, Mangla, Pakistan in 19th course. After successful completion of training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Gajaba Regiment in 23 July 1987.[6]

As a Major, he served as the second-in-command of the 10 Gajaba Regiment; in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he served as the commanding officer of 8 Gajaba Regiment. In the rank of full colonel, he served as the sector commander of Operations Command (Colombo), acting brigade commanders of 225 and 553 Infantry Brigades; as a Brigadier, he served as the brigade commanders of 215, 542, 224, 221 and 623 Infantry Brigades. As a Major General, he was the division commander of 21 Division and also the commanders of the Security Forces Headquarters - West and Security Forces Headquarters - Central and later he served as the commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.

He has also served as director - psychological operations, director (doctrine and training) and director (operations and systems) in the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (OCDS) as a Colonel; adjutant - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University as a Major, staff officer - 2 (admin) - regimental centre of the Gajaba Regiment and staff officer 2 - directorate of staff duties at the Army HQ (as a Major).

Personal life

Liyanage is a past pupil of Vijaya College, Matale.[7][6] He is married to Janaki and the couple is blessed with a daughter and a son.

Awards and decorations

He has received some of the highest awards in the Sri Lankan armed forces, which includes the Rana Wickrama Padakkama and the Rana Sura Padakkama.


References

  1. ↑ "Maj. Gen. Vikum Liyanage appointed as Army Commander". themorning.lk. 31 May 2022.
  2. ↑ "Sri Lanka : Major General Vikum Liyanage appointed as the new Sri Lanka Army Commander". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  3. ↑ "Major General Vikum Liyanage to be appointed as New Army Commander". NewsWire. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  4. ↑ "Major General Vikum Liyanage Appointed New Army Chief of Staff". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  5. ↑ "Commander of the Army | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 2023-12-02.
  6. 1 2 "New Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage Assumes Duties". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  7. ↑ "Alma-Mater Felicitates Major General Vikum Liyanage". army.lk. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  8. ↑ 75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal
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