D. S. Attygalle
Encyclopedia
General Deshamanya
Don Sepala Attygalle, LVO
, ADC
, idc, psc, SLAC
(1922—January 2001) was a Sri Lanka
n military leader, civil servant and diplomat
. The longest serving Commander of the Sri Lankan Army
(1967–1977), he went on to served as the Permanent secretary
to the Ministry of Defence
and Sri Lankan High Commissioner
to the United Kingdom
.
He is most notable for successfully crushing the 1971 Insurrection in a matter of months and becoming the first Sri Lankan army officer to be promoted to the rank of a four star General. He is known as the "Father of the Armoured Corps" and was The Equerry
to The Queen during her coronation
in 1953.
. He graduated from the Staff College, Camberley
in 1953 and the Imperial Defence College in 1966.
seeking a King's Commission, he joined as a cadet officer taking the Sword of Honour at the Army passing out parade at Diyatalawa
in 1941. Soon after he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant
in the Ceylon Light Infantry and underwent advance training in India.
After the war, he was demobilized and severed as an Assistant Controller of Textiles and Assistant Controller of Exports and Imports.
When the new Ceylon Army was established in 1949 he joined in and was commissioned as a Lieutenant
in the 1 Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry as a regular officer, promoted to the rank of Captain on the same day he was assigned as staff officer in the General Staff
. In 1950 he was appointed as Aide-de-camp
(ADC) to Lord Soulbury
, the Governor General of Ceylon and was promoted to the rank of Major
in 1952.
In mid 1952, he followed a Company Commanders' Course at the School of Infantry, Warminster
and a Land/Air Warfare Course at the School of Land/Air Warfare. Thereafter he was attached to the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
, in Germany, serving with the NATO Forces in Europe
.
In 1953 he relinquished the appointment at the Army HQ general staff, left for the United Kingdom
for Staff College and was thereafter seconded to the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
. During this time appointed Equerry
to HM Queen Elizabeth II at her Coronation and served as Military Liaison officer to the High Commissioner for Ceylon
in United Kingdom. On his return to Ceylon he took up command of the Echelon Barracks
.
On 10 October 1955 Attygalle, raised the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron as the Cavalry Arm
in the Ceylon Army in the traditions of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. In 1958, the squadron was expanded to a regiment
and Attygalle was appointed as its first Commanding Officer with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel
. The 1st Reconnaissance Regiment became the core of the Ceylon Armoured Corps
.
On 17 December 1955 a Combined Services Buddhist Mission led by Major Attygalle left for Burma by HMCyS Vijaya
, to represent the Armed Forces of Ceylon at the Buddha Jayanthi Commemoration Celebrations with them a gift of a Bo sapling.
In 1962, he was promoted to the rank of Colonel
, he took up command of the Panagoda Cantonment
, whilst serving as Commanding Officer, Ceylon Armoured Corps. Thereafter he became the Commander of the Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration in 1963, later the Inspector of Training, Army Headquarters. He become the Chief of Staff
of the Army in 1964 after relinquishing command of the Ceylon Armoured Corps and relinquished command of the Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration in 1965.
On 1 October 1967 Brigadier
D. S. Attygalle took over as the as Acting Commander of the Army after the retirement of Major General
B.R. Heyn. Promoted to the rank of Major General
he was confirmed as Commander of the Army
shortly. Under his leadership the army crushed the 1971 Insurrection within two months and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General
on 4 April 1974 thus being the first officer of the Sri Lanka Army to hold this rank. When he retired on 13 October 1977 after having served for ten years as Commander, he was promoted to the rank of general, thus becoming the first Sri Lankan army officer to be promoted to the rank of a four star General and longest serving Commander of the Army.
he was appointed as Permanent Secretary
, Ministry of Defence
and served as National Defence Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka
. He played a major role during the Vadamarachchi Operation
until Indian intervention stopped it midway. During this time he was the founding Chairman, Air Ports and Aviation Services and Chairman of Air Lanka. In 1990 he was appointed as High Commissioner for Sri Lanka
in the United Kingdom.
His military funeral
in January 2001, was well attended by his family members (His wife Brighty, his son Suraj and his grandsons Damin and Shaminda), friends and colleagues who gathered to mourn his loss.
(Military Division) (MVO) by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of the services rendered by him, during her Majesty's visit to Ceylon in 1954 which was later upgrade to Lieutenant in 1984. For wartime service in World War II, he had earned the Defence Medal
and the War Medal 1939–1945
, and for service in the Ceylon Army, he received the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal
, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
. For service in the Sri Lanka Army, he received the Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal
and the Vadamarachchi Operation Medal
for his later service as Secretary of Defence.
Deshamanya
Deshamanya is the second highest Sri Lankan national honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour.It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name....
Don Sepala Attygalle, LVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, ADC
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...
, idc, 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...
(1922—January 2001) was 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 military leader, civil servant and diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
. The longest serving 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...
(1967–1977), he went on to served as the Permanent secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
to the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)
The Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order is the Sri Lankan government ministry responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces....
and Sri Lankan High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
He is most notable for successfully crushing the 1971 Insurrection in a matter of months and becoming the first Sri Lankan army officer to be promoted to the rank of a four star General. He is known as the "Father of the Armoured Corps" and was The Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to The Queen during her coronation
Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II
The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II was the ceremony in which the newly ascended monarch, Elizabeth II, was crowned Queen of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Ceylon, and Pakistan, as well as taking on the role of Head of the Commonwealth...
in 1953.
Education
Attygalle was educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo where he became the Head prefect, won colours in both athletics and rugby and was the Senior Sergeant of the Cadet Contingent of Royal. Thereafter he went on to the University of CeylonUniversity of Ceylon
The University of Ceylon was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1942 until 1972. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced it with the University of Sri Lanka which existed from 1973 to 1978. In 1978 it was...
. He graduated from the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in 1953 and the Imperial Defence College in 1966.
Military career
With the out break of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
seeking a King's Commission, he joined as a cadet officer taking the Sword of Honour at the Army passing out parade at 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...
in 1941. Soon after he was commissioned 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...
in the Ceylon Light Infantry and underwent advance training in India.
After the war, he was demobilized and severed as an Assistant Controller of Textiles and Assistant Controller of Exports and Imports.
When the new Ceylon Army was established in 1949 he joined in and was commissioned as a 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 the 1 Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry as a regular officer, promoted to the rank of Captain on the same day he was assigned as staff officer in the 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...
. In 1950 he was appointed as 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...
(ADC) to Lord Soulbury
Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury
Herwald Ramsbotham, 1st Viscount Soulbury GCMG, GCVO, OBE, MC, PC was a British Conservative politician. He was a government minister between 1931 and 1941 and served as Governor-General of Ceylon between 1949 and 1954....
, the Governor General of Ceylon and was promoted to the rank of 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 1952.
In mid 1952, he followed a Company Commanders' Course at the School of Infantry, Warminster
Warminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
and a Land/Air Warfare Course at the School of Land/Air Warfare. Thereafter he was attached to the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army. It officially existed from 1881 to 1968, but its predecessors go back to 1755. The regiment's traditions and history are now maintained by The Rifles.-The 51st Foot:...
, in Germany, serving with the NATO Forces in Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
.
In 1953 he relinquished the appointment at the Army HQ general staff, left for the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
for Staff College and was thereafter seconded to the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
. During this time appointed Equerry
Equerry
An equerry , and related to the French word "écuyer" ) is an officer of honour. Historically, it was a senior attendant with responsibilities for the horses of a person of rank. In contemporary use, it is a personal attendant, usually upon a Sovereign, a member of a Royal Family, or a national...
to HM Queen Elizabeth II at her Coronation and served as Military Liaison officer to the High Commissioner for Ceylon
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is the Sri Lankan envoy to United Kingdom. Countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations typically exchange High Commissioners, rather than Ambassadors...
in United Kingdom. On his return to Ceylon he took up command of the Echelon Barracks
Echelon Barracks
Echelon Barracks was a former military barracks situated in Colombo fort, Colombo. Build during the late nineteenth century as headquarters of the British Army Garrison of Ceylon, it was occupied by the newly formed Ceylon Army, following independence....
.
On 10 October 1955 Attygalle, raised the 1st Reconnaissance Squadron as the Cavalry Arm
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
in the Ceylon Army in the traditions of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. In 1958, the squadron was expanded to a regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
and Attygalle was appointed as its first Commanding Officer with 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...
. The 1st Reconnaissance Regiment became the core of the Ceylon 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...
.
On 17 December 1955 a Combined Services Buddhist Mission led by Major Attygalle left for Burma by HMCyS Vijaya
HMCyS Vijaya
HMCyS Vijaya, named in honor of Vijaya, the first king of Sri Lanka, was an of the Royal Ceylon Navy, the first warship of that navy. Vijaya had been built as HMS Flying Fish for the Royal Navy during World War II, but was given to Ceylon by the United Kingdom upon the 1951 formation of Ceylon's...
, to represent the Armed Forces of Ceylon at the Buddha Jayanthi Commemoration Celebrations with them a gift of a Bo sapling.
In 1962, he was promoted to the rank of 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...
, he took up command of the Panagoda Cantonment
Panagoda Cantonment
Panagoda Cantonment is a cantonment located in the western Western Province of Sri Lanka. It serves as the regimental headquarters of many regiments of the Sri Lanka Army and is an arsenal. The 11 Division of the Sri Lanka Army is based at the Panagoda cantonment...
, whilst serving as Commanding Officer, Ceylon Armoured Corps. Thereafter he became the Commander of the Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration in 1963, later the Inspector of Training, Army Headquarters. He become the Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of the Army in 1964 after relinquishing command of the Ceylon Armoured Corps and relinquished command of the Task Force Anti Illicit Immigration in 1965.
On 1 October 1967 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....
D. S. Attygalle took over as the as Acting Commander of the Army after the retirement 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...
B.R. Heyn. 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...
he was confirmed as Commander of the 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...
shortly. Under his leadership the army crushed the 1971 Insurrection within two months and was promoted to the rank of 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....
on 4 April 1974 thus being the first officer of the Sri Lanka Army to hold this rank. When he retired on 13 October 1977 after having served for ten years as Commander, he was promoted to the rank of general, thus becoming the first Sri Lankan army officer to be promoted to the rank of a four star General and longest serving Commander of the Army.
Later life
Apron retirement from the army, he took up appointment as Additional Secretary, Ministry of Defence and Chief Co-ordinating Authority in the Ministry of Defence in 1977. In the early 1980s with the escalation of the Tamil MilitancySri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
he was appointed as Permanent Secretary
Permanent Secretary
The Permanent secretary, in most departments officially titled the permanent under-secretary of state , is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis...
, Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)
The Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order is the Sri Lankan government ministry responsible for implementation of government defence policy and the headquarters of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces....
and served as National Defence Advisor to the President of Sri Lanka
President of Sri Lanka
The President of Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is the elected head of state and the head of government. The President is a dominant political figure in Sri Lanka. The office was created in 1978 but has grown so powerful there have been calls to restrict or even eliminate its power...
. He played a major role during 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...
until Indian intervention stopped it midway. During this time he was the founding Chairman, Air Ports and Aviation Services and Chairman of Air Lanka. In 1990 he was appointed as High Commissioner for Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom
The Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom is the Sri Lankan envoy to United Kingdom. Countries belonging to the Commonwealth of Nations typically exchange High Commissioners, rather than Ambassadors...
in the United Kingdom.
His military funeral
Military funeral
A military funeral is a specially orchestrated funeral given by a country's military for a soldier, sailor, marine or airman who died in battle, a veteran, or other prominent military figures or heads of state. A military funeral may feature guards of honor, the firing of volley shots as a salute,...
in January 2001, was well attended by his family members (His wife Brighty, his son Suraj and his grandsons Damin and Shaminda), friends and colleagues who gathered to mourn his loss.
Decorations
He was made a Member of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(Military Division) (MVO) by Her Majesty the Queen in recognition of the services rendered by him, during her Majesty's visit to Ceylon in 1954 which was later upgrade to Lieutenant in 1984. For wartime service in World War II, he had earned the Defence Medal
Defence Medal
The Defence Medal was a campaign medal of the British Commonwealth, awarded for service in World War II. It was instituted to recognise both military and some types of civilian service....
and the War Medal 1939–1945
War Medal 1939–1945
The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea...
, and for service in the Ceylon Army, he received 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...
, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal
The Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal was a commemorative medal made to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.-Issue:For Coronation and Jubilee medals, the practice up until 1977 was that United Kingdom authorities decided on a total number to be produced, then allocated a proportion to...
and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal
The Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal was awarded to members of the Ceylon armed services who served during specified periods in 1949-1951 during its establishment.-External links:***-References:...
. For service in the Sri Lanka Army, he received the 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 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....
for his later service as Secretary of Defence.
Honors
- Attygalle was promoted to the rank of general upon his retirement in 1977.
- He was awarded the title DeshamanyaDeshamanyaDeshamanya is the second highest Sri Lankan national honour awarded by the Government of Sri Lanka as a civil honour.It is conventionally used as a title or prefix to the awardee's name....
from the Government of Sri Lanka. - He was a made a Member of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
which was later upgrade to Lieutenant. - Doctor of Literature (honorary) by the University of Sri LankaUniversity of Sri LankaThe University of Sri Lanka was the only university in Sri Lanka from 1972 until 1978. It had several constituent campuses at various locations around Sri Lanka. The University of Ceylon Act No. 1 of 1972, replaced the University of Ceylon with the University of Sri Lanka. In 1978 it was separated...
.
See also
- Sri Lanka Armoured CorpsSri Lanka Armoured CorpsThe 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...
- Sri Lankan Non Career Diplomats
- List of Sri Lankan non-career Permanent Secretaries