23rd March 2022 14:09:29 Hours
The Gemunu Watch bid farewell to the outgoing commander 1 Corps and Colonel of the Regiment of Special Forces Major General H P Ranasinghe RWP RSP ndc.
Major General Harendra Ranasinghe was born on 18th March 1967 and had his education at Thurston College Colombo. He joined the Regular Force of Sri Lanka Army on 27th October 1986 as an Officer Cadet of the Intake 26 and followed both academic programme and basic military training at Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyatalawa consecutively. Thereafter, at the successful completion of Officer Cadet training, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant on 23rd July 1987 and was posted to 5th Battalion of the Gemunu Watch.
Being an accomplished member of Special Force, Major General Harndra Ranasinghe performed effectively, serving in almost all operational areas of the country, as before stepping to Special Forces he hold the appointment as a Adjutant of 5th Battalion the Gamunu Watch. Subsequently, the Team Commander of 1 Regiment Special Forces, Adjutant of 1 Regiment Special Forces, Squadron Second in Command 2 Regiment Special Forces, Squadron Commander 1 and 2 Regiment Special Forces, Second in Command of 2 Regiment Special Forces and Officer Instructor in Special Force Training School Maduruoya. He commanded the 1 SF and 2 SF during the decisive stages of the humanitarian operation against LTTE. Apart from the appointments, in Unit lines, he had held many command and staff appointments such as Commandant of Special Force Training School Maduruoya, Centre Commandant of Regiment Headquarters Special Force, Colonel General Staff 58 Infantry Division, Commander 571 Infantry Brigade, Commander Special Force Brigade, Commandant Army Training School, Brigadier General Staff Security Forces Headquarters (West ), Director General Operation, Commander 56 Infantry Division and Commander Security Force Headquarters (Kilinochchi).
The formal farewell ceremony to Major General Harendra Ranasinghe was held at the Gemunu Watch Regimental Centre premises on 15 March 2022 while complying with the COVID 19 safety regulations.
Farewell formalities commenced with a ceremonial Guard Turnout, followed by a Guard of Honour at the Regimental parade ground. Commander Security Forces (East) and Colonel of the Regiment of the Gemunu Watch Major General P M L Chandrasiri WWV RWP RSP ndu, Major General S N Samarawickrama KSP Deputy Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Brigadier W B J K Wimalaratne RWP RSP Center Commandant The Gemunu Watch welcomed him together with Senior Officers and Officers of the Regiment. The day’s event also included with ceremonial commemoration for fallen war heroes at the monument, all ranks tea, moreover The formal farewell programme culminated with the farewell lunch hosted for Major General Harendra Ranasinghe by Colonel of the Regiment and all Officers of the Gemunu Watch.
