Devinda Kalupahana
Encyclopedia
Major General
Devinda Kalupahana, RSP
, USP
, psc, SLAC
is a Sri Lanka
n general
, who was the former GOC
, 3 Division; GOC
, 2 Division; Director Operations, General Staff
and Commandant
, Sri Lanka Military Academy
.
Educated at Royal College, Colombo, Kalupahana joined the army in 1966 as a cadet officer, undergoing training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. While at Sandhurst, his cadet intake for the winter training exercise where sent to Cyprus
when the Cypriot intercommunal violence
broke out and the Sandhurst Cadets were deployed until they were relived by regular units
In 1968 he was commissioned in to the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, Ceylon Armoured Corps as a Second Lieutenant
.
After serving as a Troop Leader in the Ceylon Armoured Corps, he became a Officer Instructor that the Army Training Centre in Diyatalawa
and returned several years later as Chief Instructor of its successor the Sri Lanka Military Academy
. He had also severed as a staff officer in the Northern Command Headquarters, Sri Lanka Army Headquarters
and the Joint Operations Headquarters. He also served as the Commandant of the Combat Training School in Ampara
.
Raising the 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment
of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
, he became its first Commanding Officer in 1988, by now a Lieutenant Colonel
. He then became the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Military Academy and went on to take command in the Area Headquarters in Vavuniya
.
During Operation Sea Breeze the first amphibious operation launched by the Sri Lankan military in its history; Colonel
Kalupahana lead the Brigade that land on the second wave which successfully established the beach head.
Thereafter he went on the become the Director Operations at the Army Headquarters; Regimental Commander of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; General Officer Commanding of the 3 Division and General Officer Commanding of the 2 Division. He reteired from the army with the rank of Major General in 1996.
General Kalupahana is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff and Command College
in Germany
. He was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama
(RSP) for combat bravery, the service medal Uttama Seva Padakkama
(USP), the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
, the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
and the Purna Bhumi Padakkama
.
In 2010 he gave evidence to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
.
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...
Devinda Kalupahana, RSP
Rana Sura Padakkama
The Rana Sura Padakkama is a medal presented to members of all ranks of the Military of Sri Lanka for individual and/or associated acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord. The decoration is presented by the President of Sri Lanka...
, USP
Uttama Seva Padakkama
The Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
, psc, SLAC
Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
The Sri Lanka Armoured Corps is currently a collection of six regular regiments and a volunteer regiment. It has an independent Armoured Brigade and provides the armour capability of the Sri Lankan Army, with vehicles such as the T-55, T-55AM2, and Type 69 main battle tanks, the BMP infantry...
is a Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
n general
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....
, who was the former GOC
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
, 3 Division; GOC
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
, 2 Division; Director Operations, General Staff
General Staff
A military staff, often referred to as General Staff, Army Staff, Navy Staff or Air Staff within the individual services, is a group of officers and enlisted personnel that provides a bi-directional flow of information between a commanding officer and subordinate military units...
and Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
, Sri Lanka Military Academy
Sri Lanka Military Academy
The Sri Lanka Military Academy , commonly known simply as Diyatalawa, is the Sri Lanka Army's officer initial training centre located in the garrison town of Diyatalawa in the central highlands of Sri Lanka....
.
Educated at Royal College, Colombo, Kalupahana joined the army in 1966 as a cadet officer, undergoing training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
. While at Sandhurst, his cadet intake for the winter training exercise where sent to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
when the Cypriot intercommunal violence
Cypriot intercommunal violence
Cypriot intercommunal violence refers to periods of sectarian conflict between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots on the island of Cyprus from 1963 to 1974.-Background:...
broke out and the Sandhurst Cadets were deployed until they were relived by regular units
In 1968 he was commissioned in to the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, Ceylon Armoured Corps as a Second Lieutenant
Second 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...
.
After serving as a Troop Leader in the Ceylon Armoured Corps, he became a Officer Instructor that the Army Training Centre in Diyatalawa
Diyatalawa
Diyatalawa is a garrison town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka, in the Badulla District of Uva Province. It is at an altitude of and has become a popular destination for local holiday makers...
and returned several years later as Chief Instructor of its successor the Sri Lanka Military Academy
Sri Lanka Military Academy
The Sri Lanka Military Academy , commonly known simply as Diyatalawa, is the Sri Lanka Army's officer initial training centre located in the garrison town of Diyatalawa in the central highlands of Sri Lanka....
. He had also severed as a staff officer in the Northern Command Headquarters, Sri Lanka 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 the Joint Operations Headquarters. He also served as the Commandant of the Combat Training School in Ampara
Ampara
Ampara is a remote city on the East Coast of Sri Lanka, about 360 km from the capital city of Colombo. It belongs to the Eastern Province of Sri Lanka. It was a part of the domain of Kavantissa and was then known as "Ambaragama", which over the years changed to Ambara to Ampara...
.
Raising the 3rd Reconnaissance Regiment
Formation reconnaissance regiment
The Formation Reconnaissance Regiment is one of two organisations currently provided by cavalry regiments of the British Army. Until recently, it was known as the Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment....
of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
Sri Lanka Armoured Corps
The Sri Lanka Armoured Corps is currently a collection of six regular regiments and a volunteer regiment. It has an independent Armoured Brigade and provides the armour capability of the Sri Lankan Army, with vehicles such as the T-55, T-55AM2, and Type 69 main battle tanks, the BMP infantry...
, he became its first Commanding Officer in 1988, by now a 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...
. He then became the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Military Academy and went on to take command in the Area Headquarters in Vavuniya
Vavuniya
Vavuniya is a town in northern Sri Lanka. This town is situated in the Northern Province. Vavuniya was often referred to as the gateway to Vanni....
.
During Operation Sea Breeze the first amphibious operation launched by the Sri Lankan military in its history; 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...
Kalupahana lead the Brigade that land on the second wave which successfully established the beach head.
Thereafter he went on the become the Director Operations at the Army Headquarters; Regimental Commander of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps; General Officer Commanding of the 3 Division and General Officer Commanding of the 2 Division. He reteired from the army with the rank of Major General in 1996.
General Kalupahana is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff and Command College
Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr
The Führungsakademie der Bundeswehr is the highest military academy of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr. Established in 1957, and since 1958 located in Hamburg, it is the successor of the Prussian Military Academy that was established in 1810...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. He was awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama
The Rana Sura Padakkama is a medal presented to members of all ranks of the Military of Sri Lanka for individual and/or associated acts of heroism in facing the enemy and performed of their own accord. The decoration is presented by the President of Sri Lanka...
(RSP) for combat bravery, the service medal Uttama Seva Padakkama
Uttama Seva Padakkama
The Uttama Seva Padakkama is presented to all ranks of the Regular Forces of the Sri Lankan military for valuable service and dedication to duty with the outstanding ability, merit and excellent conduct, given that they count not less than 15 years continuous and uninterrupted service and possess...
(USP), the 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...
, the 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...
and 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....
.
In 2010 he gave evidence to the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission
Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission is a commission of inquiry appointed by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa in May 2010 to look into events of the Sri Lankan Civil War between February 2002 and May 2009.-Background:...
.