Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna
Encyclopedia
Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna (SFHQ-J) is a regional command
of the Sri Lanka Army, that is responsible for the operational deployment and command all army units stationed in and around the Jaffna Peninsula
in the Northern Province
, this includes several division
s and the independent brigade
s. It is the most senior of the five Security Forces Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding
it is one of the most senior officers in the army, the post is designated as Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna. The current Commander SFHQ-J is Major General
Mahinda Hathurusingh. The SFHQ-J is based at the Palaly Military Base
. It was the successes to the former pre-war Northern Command.
Although it is primary a command of the Sri Lanka Army it coordinates operations and deployments of ground units of the Navy, Air Force and police with that of the army. The Sri Lanka Navy units in the Northern Province come under the Northern Naval Area Command and Sri Lanka Air Force units come under its own Northern Zonal Command. At certain times the an Overall Operations Commander (OOC) has been appointed with authority over all three commands and police units in the Jaffna Peninsula.
Command (military formation)
A command in military terminology is an organisational unit that the individual in Military command has responsibility for. A Commander will normally be specifically appointed into the role in order to provide a legal framework for the authority bestowed...
of the Sri Lanka Army, that is responsible for the operational deployment and command all army units stationed in and around the Jaffna Peninsula
Jaffna Peninsula
The Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to...
in the Northern Province
Northern Province, Sri Lanka
The Northern Province is one of the 9 provinces of Sri Lanka. The provinces have existed since the 19th century but did not have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils. Between 1988 and 2006 the province was...
, this includes several division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
s and the independent brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s. It is the most senior of the five Security Forces Headquarters and the General Officer Commanding
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...
it is one of the most senior officers in the army, the post is designated as Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna. The current Commander SFHQ-J is 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...
Mahinda Hathurusingh. The SFHQ-J is based at the Palaly Military Base
Palaly Military Base
Palaly Military Base is a military base located in Palaly, Northern Province of Sri Lanka. The base houses the Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna and is in close proximity to the naval base; SLNS Uttara at Kankasanturai and air base; SLAF Palaly. The Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps maintains a base...
. It was the successes to the former pre-war Northern Command.
Although it is primary a command of the Sri Lanka Army it coordinates operations and deployments of ground units of the Navy, Air Force and police with that of the army. The Sri Lanka Navy units in the Northern Province come under the Northern Naval Area Command and Sri Lanka Air Force units come under its own Northern Zonal Command. At certain times the an Overall Operations Commander (OOC) has been appointed with authority over all three commands and police units in the Jaffna Peninsula.
Composition
- 51 Division, based in JaffnaJaffnaJaffna 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...
- 51-1 Brigade
- 51-2 Brigade
- 51-3 Brigade
- 52 Division, based in the Jaffna PeninsulaJaffna PeninsulaThe Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to...
- 52-1 Brigade
- 52-2 Brigade
- 52-3 Brigade
- 55 Division55 Division (Sri Lanka)The 55 Division is an elite division of the Sri Lanka Army. A principal offensive division it is currently deployed for combat operations in the Jaffna Peninsula and is under the command of Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna. -Towns captured by 55 Division:...
, based in Elephant PassElephant PassElephant Pass, Northern Province, Sri Lanka is an important military base and formerly the island's largest salt field, located in the gateway of Jaffna Peninsula. It has thus regularly been the site of battles during the civil war....
, Jaffna PeninsulaJaffna PeninsulaThe Jaffna Peninsula is an area in Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is home to the capital city of the province, Jaffna and comprises much of the former land mass of the ancient Tamil kingdoms of the Nagas and the medieval Jaffna kingdom. The peninsula is mostly surrounded by water, connected to...
- 55-1 Brigade
- 55-2 Brigade
- 55-3 Brigade
List of Overall Operations Commanders
- Major General (later Lieutenant General) Denzil KobbekaduwaDenzil KobbekaduwaLieutenant General Denzil Lakshman Kobbekaduwa RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, SLAC was a highly decorated and respected General in the Sri Lanka army...
, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe 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...
, pscPscpsc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, SLAC - Major General (later General) Rohan Daluwatte, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe 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...
, pscPscpsc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, SLAC - Major General Janaka PereraJanaka PereraMajor General Janaka Perera, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, VSP, rcds, psc, CR was a Sri Lankan General and politician. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and is considered one of the most distinguished generals in Sri Lankan history. After retiring from the army he served as a Sri Lankan...
, pscPscpsc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, GW
Previous Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna
- Brigadier (later Leiutenant General) T.I Weerathunge, VSVVSVVSV can refer to:*Vesicular stomatitis virus, a virus in the family Rhabdoviridae*Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, a military decoration of Sri Lanka*VSV EC, an Austrian ice hockey team*Very Slender Vessel, a type of high speed boat...
, GW - Brigadier (later Major General) Jayantha de S. JayaratneJayantha de S. JayaratneMajor General Jayantha de S. Jayaratne, VSV, ndc, IG, SLA was a Sri Lankan general, who was the former Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna...
, VSVVSVVSV can refer to:*Vesicular stomatitis virus, a virus in the family Rhabdoviridae*Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, a military decoration of Sri Lanka*VSV EC, an Austrian ice hockey team*Very Slender Vessel, a type of high speed boat...
, SLA - Brigadier (later Major General) Y Balaratnarajah, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe 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...
, SLAC - Brigadier J Nammuni, SLSR
- Brigadier (Later Major General) Vijaya Wimalaratne, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe 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...
, pscPscpsc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, GR - Brigadier (later Major General) Nihal Jayakody, SLLI
- Brigadier (later Major General Sarath MunasingheSarath MunasingheMajor General Sarath Munasinghe, RWP, RSP, USP, ndc, psc, SLA was a Sri Lankan General and a politician. He had served in the Sri Lanka Army, becoming Commander Security Forces Headquarter Jaffna and went on to become the Deputy Speaker and Member of Parliament.-Military career:Educated at...
,GW - Major General (later General) Sarath FonsekaSarath FonsekaGardihewa Sarath Chandralal Fonseka, known as Sarath Fonseka is a former commander and General of the Sri Lanka Army and a former candidate for President of Sri Lanka. As Commander of the Army, he played an instrumental role in ending the 26 year Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, defeating the...
, pscPscpsc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, SLSR - Major General MDS Chandrapala USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe 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...
, GW - Major General G.A. Chandrasiri, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe 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...
, pscPscpsc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, SLAC - Major General M.C.M.P Samarasinghe, USPUttama Seva PadakkamaThe 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...
, pscPscpsc were the initials which appeared in the service lists denoting that a British Army officer had attended the Staff College, Camberley or, prior to 1956 and Pakistani independence, the Command and Staff College, Quetta...
, SLE