Nalin Seneviratne
Encyclopedia
General
Ganegoda Don Granville Nalin Seneviratne, VSV
, ndc
, SLE
(August 25, 1931 - August 12, 2009) was a Sri Lankan Army
officer. He was the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army
from 1985 to 1988 and first Governor
of the North East Province
.
, a former IGP
, and the other brother Gamini Seneviratne
was a senior career diplomat. Educated at Royal College Colombo
, Seneviratne excelled in sports and academics. He took part in athletic and rugby, and was a Regimental Sergeant Major
of the College Cadet Corp.
and posted to the Ceylon Engineers in 1953.
He received promotions to the ranks of Lieutenant
in 1955, Captain in 1958 and Major
in 1963. During this time he had served as a staff officer at Army Headquarters
and HQ, Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration. After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
in 1971 he became the Commanding Officer, 1 Field Engineer Regiment, Ceylon Engineers and later was an Extra Aide-de-camp
to the President. In 1977 he was promoted to Colonel
and became the Commander Engineer Group till 1980. Whilst serving in the Army, he was seconded to the Ceylon Shipping Corporation for two years and a member of the Board of Directors of the Tractor Corporation from 1977 to 1980. He was appointed as Director Engineer Services and later Director Designated Budget and Financial Managemen before being promoted to the rank of Brigadier
in 1981, taking command of the Support Force, Panagoda
, later the post of Commander - Security Force, Jaffna
and thereafter served as Coordinating Officer of Jaffna
and Kilinochchi
.
He had undergone training at Royal School of Military Engineering
and the United States Army Engineering School
at Fort Belvoir
. He is also a graduate of the National Defence College
, New Delhi
.
On February 11, 1985 he was appointed as the 10th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and promoted to the rank of Major General
. The following year he was promoted to Lieutenant General
. Commanding the army for over three years he oversaw the largest military operation undertaken to that date, the Vadamarachchi Operation
and carried out a rapid expansion of the army. He retired on August 16, 1988.
He had been awarded the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
(VSV) for over 25 years of distinguished service in the army, his other medals include the Purna Bhumi Padakkama
, Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
, Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal
and the President's Inauguration Medal
.
along with 9 other former service chiefs. He died August 12, 2009, aged 78 and last rites carried out with full military honours at the Borella General Cemetery.
Denis Perera
.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Ganegoda Don Granville Nalin Seneviratne, VSV
Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
The Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan senior military officers of three services, given that their loyal service is of not less than 25 years and possess a perfectly flawless record of moral and military conduct, will be appropriate for the award...
, ndc
NDC
NDC or ndc may refer to:*IATA code for Nanded Airport, India* ndc, "name daemon control program" in some Unix-based BIND name-server environments* N.D.C., a 2002 single by Australian band Jebediah* National Defence Commission of North Korea...
, SLE
Sri Lanka Engineers
http://fieldengineers.lk/The Sri Lanka Engineers a combat support arms of the Sri Lanka Army which provides combat engineering. It is made up of ten Regular Regiments and one Volunteer Regiments. Headquartered at Army Cantonment, Panagoda...
(August 25, 1931 - August 12, 2009) was a Sri Lankan Army
Sri Lankan Army
The Sri Lanka Army is the oldest and largest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces and is responsible for land-based military and humanitarian operations. Established as the Ceylon Army in 1949, it was renamed when Sri Lanka became a republic in 1972...
officer. He was the Commander of the Sri Lankan Army
Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)
Commander of the Army is the title of the professional head of the Sri Lanka Army. The current Commander of the Army is Lieutenant General Jagath Jayasuriya...
from 1985 to 1988 and first Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the North East Province
North Eastern Province, Sri Lanka
The North Eastern Province was one of the provinces of Sri Lanka. The province was created in September 1988 by merging the Northern and Eastern provinces. This merger was declared illegal by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka in 2006. The province was formally demerged into the Northern and Eastern...
.
Early life and education
One of his brothers were Ana SeneviratneAna Seneviratne
G. A. D. E. Ana Seneviratne is a former Sri Lankan Inspector-General of Police and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia.Educated at the prestigious Royal College Colombo and went to graduate from the University of Ceylon, Peradeniya, with a LLB Degree...
, a former IGP
Inspector General of Police (Sri Lanka)
The Inspector General of Police is the professional head of the Sri Lanka Police. He is the most senior police officer in Sri Lanka and oversees all police personnel throughout the country. The IGP reports to the minister of defense, when the Police Service is under the Ministry of Defence as it...
, and the other brother Gamini Seneviratne
Gamini Seneviratne
Ganegodage Don Irwin Gamini Seneviratne, SLOS is a Sri Lankan civil servant and diplomat, who was the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand and the Republic of Korea....
was a senior career diplomat. Educated at Royal College Colombo
Royal College Colombo
The Royal College of Colombo was founded in January 1835 in Colombo. It is considered to be the leading Public School in Sri Lanka...
, Seneviratne excelled in sports and academics. He took part in athletic and rugby, and was a Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
of the College Cadet Corp.
Military career
He joined the Ceylon Army after leaving school in 1951 as a Cadet Officer and received his basic training at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Apron completion of training he was commissioned as a Second LieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and posted to the Ceylon Engineers in 1953.
He received promotions to the ranks of Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1955, Captain in 1958 and Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in 1963. During this time he had served as a staff officer at Army Headquarters
Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)
Army Headquarters refers to the military headquarters complex of the Sri Lanka Army. Situated next to Galle Face Green and long the Lower Lake Road, this complex also includes the Ministry of Defence. Apart from operational and administrative offices, it contains the regimental centers of several...
and HQ, Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration. After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in 1971 he became the Commanding Officer, 1 Field Engineer Regiment, Ceylon Engineers and later was an Extra Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the President. In 1977 he was promoted to Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and became the Commander Engineer Group till 1980. Whilst serving in the Army, he was seconded to the Ceylon Shipping Corporation for two years and a member of the Board of Directors of the Tractor Corporation from 1977 to 1980. He was appointed as Director Engineer Services and later Director Designated Budget and Financial Managemen before being promoted to the rank of Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in 1981, taking command of the Support Force, Panagoda
Panagoda
Panagoda is a town in Western Province, Sri Lanka of Sri Lanka. Its 20 km away from Colombo. Situated there is the Panagoda Cantonment, the largest military base in the country....
, later the post of Commander - Security Force, Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
and thereafter served as Coordinating Officer of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
and Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi
Kilinochchi is a city in the Kilinochchi District, part of the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. Kilinochchi is situated at the A9 road some south-east of Jaffna...
.
He had undergone training at Royal School of Military Engineering
Royal School of Military Engineering
The Royal School of Military Engineering is the main training establishment for the British Army's Royal Engineers. After they have successfully completed their Phase 1 - Basic Soldier Training, members of the Corps of Royal Engineers attend 3 RSME, at Minley for Phase 2a - Combat Engineering...
and the United States Army Engineering School
Engineer Officer Basic Course
The Engineer Basic Officer Leader Course Phase B is located at the United States Army Engineer School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and is approximately seventeen weeks long and the second part of the Basic Officer Leaders Course...
at Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir
Fort Belvoir is a United States Army installation and a census-designated place in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. Originally, it was the site of the Belvoir plantation. Today, Fort Belvoir is home to a number of important United States military organizations...
. He is also a graduate of the National Defence College
National Defence College, India
The National Defence College of India, located in New Delhi, is an institution of higher learning of the defence forces of India. The institution was inaugurated on 27 April 1960 and is the only military institution in the country that imparts knowledge on all aspects of national security and...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
On February 11, 1985 he was appointed as the 10th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and promoted to the rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
. The following year he was promoted to Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
. Commanding the army for over three years he oversaw the largest military operation undertaken to that date, the Vadamarachchi Operation
Vadamarachchi Operation
The Operation Liberation or Vadamarachchi Operation, the military offensive carried out by the Sri Lankan military during May to June 1987, to re-gain the territory of Vadamarachchi in Jaffna peninsula from the LTTE control...
and carried out a rapid expansion of the army. He retired on August 16, 1988.
He had been awarded the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
The Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal and bar are presented to Sri Lankan senior military officers of three services, given that their loyal service is of not less than 25 years and possess a perfectly flawless record of moral and military conduct, will be appropriate for the award...
(VSV) for over 25 years of distinguished service in the army, his other medals include the Purna Bhumi Padakkama
Purna Bhumi Padakkama
The Purna Bhumi Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the military of the Republic of Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Police, who have served in the districts of:* Jaffna since July 22, 1977....
, Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
The Vadamarachchi Operation Medal is presented to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the military of the Republic of Sri Lanka, that who have served in Vadamarachchi Operation and the below mentioned tasks....
, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
The Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal shall be granted to All regular officers and other ranks of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force, who complete 12 years continuous service and whose character and conduct have been irreproachable and who are recommended by their...
, Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
The Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal was a service medal of Ceylon from 1968 to 1972. It was granted to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Ceylon Army, Royal Ceylon Navy and Royal Ceylon Air Force, who complete 12 years service as defined in the regulations of the respective warrants...
, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal
Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal
It is ordained that the medal shall be awarded to all ranks of the Regular and Volunteer Forces of the Armed Service of the Republic of Sri Lanka, including officers but excluding those in the ranks of the Ceylon Cadet Corps, who were in service on the 22nd May 1972 and who are recommended by the...
and the President's Inauguration Medal
President's Inauguration Medal
The President's Inauguration Medal was granted to all regular officers and other ranks of the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force, but excluding those in the ranks of the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps, who were in service on the 04th February 1978 and who are recommended by the Commander...
.
Later life
On his retirement from the Army, General Seneviratne was appointed as the first Governor of the North East Province from 30 November 1988 to 30 November 1993. In 2007 he was promoted to the rank of GeneralGeneral
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
along with 9 other former service chiefs. He died August 12, 2009, aged 78 and last rites carried out with full military honours at the Borella General Cemetery.
Family
He was married to Mala Seneviratne, their only child Dushyanthi is the principal cellist of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka and is married to Khavan Perera, son of GeneralGeneral
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Denis Perera
Denis Perera
General Deshamanya Joseph Everard Denis Perera, VSV, FCMI, ndc, psc, SLE was a Sri Lankan Army officer who served as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1977 to 1981.-Early life and family:...
.