Dennis Hapugalle
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Dennis Hapugalle, VSV
, psc, SLAC
(1930–2000) was a Sri Lankan
military officer, former Chief of Civil Defence and Permanent Secretary
, Ministry of Internal Security.
Educated at Royal College, Colombo, Hapugalle joined the army in 1950 as a cadet officer, undergoing training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. In 1968 he was commissioned in to the Ceylon Electrical and Mechanical Engineers as a Second Lieutenant
.
With the formation of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment which later became a part of the Ceylon Armoured Corps he was transferred in and played a major role in the introduction of armored warfare. He went on to become the commanding officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, before which he had served as a staff officer in the Army Headquarters
and Ceylon Volunteer Force Headquarters
. During the 1971 Insurrection he was the Military Coordinating Officer for Mannar
prior to which he had been the Chief of Civil Defence.
Transferring to the Army Headquarters he became Additional Director, Personal Administration before his retirement with the rank of Brigadier.
Brigadier Hapugalle was 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
.
After his retirment he served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Security, Honorary Secretary of the Board for Cricket Control in Sri Lanka and later Managing Director of the Alethea International School.
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....
Dennis Hapugalle, 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...
, 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...
(1930–2000) was a Sri Lankan
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...
military officer, former Chief of Civil Defence and 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 Internal Security.
Educated at Royal College, Colombo, Hapugalle joined the army in 1950 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...
. In 1968 he was commissioned in to the Ceylon Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 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...
.
With the formation of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment which later became a part of the Ceylon Armoured Corps he was transferred in and played a major role in the introduction of armored warfare. He went on to become the commanding officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, before which he had served as a staff officer in the 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 Ceylon Volunteer Force Headquarters
Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
The Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force is the principal and Volunteer reserve force component of the Sri Lanka Army. It is a collective name for the reserve units and the Sri Lanka National Guard of the Sri Lankan Army. The SLAVF is made up of part-time Officers and soldiers paid at a similar rate,...
. During the 1971 Insurrection he was the Military Coordinating Officer for Mannar
Mannar
Mannar may refer to:* Mannar, Alappuzha, a town in Alappuzha district, Kerala, India* Mannar, Kaduthuruthy,a town in Kottayam district, Kerala, India* Mannar, Sri Lanka, a town in northern Sri Lanka* Mannar District, a district in Sri Lanka...
prior to which he had been the Chief of Civil Defence.
Transferring to the Army Headquarters he became Additional Director, Personal Administration before his retirement with the rank of Brigadier.
Brigadier Hapugalle was 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....
.
After his retirment he served as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Internal Security, Honorary Secretary of the Board for Cricket Control in Sri Lanka and later Managing Director of the Alethea International School.