Major General C D Wickramanayake WV RSP ndc
25th Colonel Commandant of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers
&
Chief Field Engineer in Sri Lanka Army
Major General Chandana Wickramanayake was born on 19 May 1972 in Gampaha and he is a proud product of Parakrama Maha Vidyalaya, Gampaha where he excelled in both academic pursuits and extracurricular activities, demonstrating leadership qualities from an early age. Upon the successful completion of his school education and inspired by an unwavering sense of patriotism and duty towards the motherland during the heights of the brutal terrorist conflict, he enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army on 07 January 1993.
He underwent his basic military training as an Officer Cadet of Intake - 39 at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa. Displaying exceptional military aptitude and leadership potential, he was ranked among the top ten cadets out of a batch of sixty-four and was subsequently selected to continue his training at the prestigious Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, Uttar Pradesh, India. Upon the successful completion of the Officer Cadet Training, he was commissioned into the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers on 09 April 1994 and commenced his illustrious military career after joining the 6 Field Engineer Regiment at Welioya.
Throughout his distinguished and exemplary military career spanning nearly three decades, Major General Chandana Wickramanayake has held a multitude of command, staff, instructional and administrative appointments with exceptional professionalism and distinction. His command appointments include Troop Commander, Squadron Commander, Second-in-Command of the 11 Field Engineer Regiment, Commanding Officer of 9 Field Engineer Regiment and Infantry Brigade Commander - 643 Infantry Brigade.
In the staff arena, he has served in numerous key appointments including Staff Officer III (Administration) and Staff Officer I (Administration & Ceremonial) at Regimental Headquarters of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers, Brigade Major - Engineer Brigade, Boo Oya, General Staff Officer I (Plans and Procurement) and General Staff Officer I (Operations) at the Office of Chief Field Engineer, Mattegoda. In addition to that, he has rendered invaluable service as an Instructor at the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training (IPSOT) Sri Lanka.
Apart from the many distinguished appointments he has held during his illustrious military journey following are considered as the most committed and dedicated senior appointments he held:
- Senior Project Officer – Ranaviru Apparel (RAVPL), Yakkala
- Colonel Project – Field Engineer Brigade - Vavuniya
- Commandant – Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering (SLSME) - Embilipitiya
- Infantry Brigade Commander – 643 Infantry Brigade – Muthiyan Kattukulam - Oddusudan
- Director – Directorate of Movement, Sri Lanka Army Headquarters
- Chief Field Engineer – Sri Lanka Army Headquarters
A firm believer in professional excellence and continuous military education, Major General Chandana Wickramanayake has successfully completed a wide array of local and foreign military courses.
Local Courses include:
- Field Engineer Course Class III , II , I – Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering (SLSME) – Embilipitiya
- Fitness, Confidence & Endurance Officers Course – Commando Regiment Training School, Kuda Oya
- Regimental Signals Officers’ Course (RSO) – Sri Lanka School of Signals, Kandy
- Small Group Operations Instructor Course – 512 Brigade, Kayts
- Intelligence Officers Basic Course – Directorate of Military Intelligence, Colombo
- Battalion Support Weapons Course – Infantry Training Centre, Minneriya
- Multi Platoon Exercise – MPE 3 – IPSOTSL - Kukuleganga
- Potential Staff Officers Course – Military Observer – IPSOTSL - Kukuleganga
- Junior Command & Staff Course – Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa
- Humanitarian Demining Course – SLSME - Embilipitiya
- Humanitarian Demining Officers’ Management Course - Miladdy
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Level II (Phase II & III) Courses – Field Engineer Brigade, Boo Oya
- Global Peace Operations Initiative – United Nations Protection of Civilians Trainer Course
- Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Courses (Level II & III)
- National Defence Course (NDC) – National Defence College, Bambalapitiya
Internationally, he has attended following prestigious foreign military courses:
- Officer Cadet Course – Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, India with 94 Regular Long Course
- Engineer Young Officers’ Course – Bangladesh
- Junior Staff Officers Course – Pakistan
- Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course – Pakistan
- Regional Senior Managers’ Course in Explosive Remnants of War and Mine Action – Vietnam
- Higher Defence Orientation Course – India – (HDOC – 17)
thereby broadening his professional expertise and strengthening military cooperation and interoperability with foreign armed forces.
In the international arena, Major General Chandana Wickramanayake has brought honour and recognition to the Sri Lanka Army through his participation in numerous overseas assignments and United Nations related engagements. He served as a Military Observer in Western Sahara under the United Nations mission, participated in joint disaster relief operations in Fukushima, Japan and functioned as the Head of Training Team (HOTT) for Bomb and Improvised Explosive Devices Disposal (BIEDD) training conducted for the Maldives National Defence Force. Moreover, he was privilege to attend a seminar on disaster management in Thailand.
During his tenure as an Infantry Brigade Commander of 643 Infantry Brigade, he demonstrated exceptional leadership, foresight and humanitarian concern by initiating numerous welfare and reconciliation projects, including the construction and donation of two houses for rehabilitated former LTTE cadres namely, Raja and Jesudasan. He also played a pivotal role in elevating the operational readiness and professional standards of Officers and soldiers through meticulously planned and systematically executed training programmes.
Later, as Director of the Directorate of Movement at Army Headquarters, he made a remarkable contribution towards enhancing the efficiency and coordination of troop movements, civilian welfare transportation, railway movement arrangements and other large scale military transportation requirements across the island. During his tenure as Director of the Directorate of Movement at Army Headquarters, Major General Chandana Wickramanayake introduced several innovative and welfare oriented transportation initiatives which greatly enhanced the efficiency of military and civilian movement systems. Among these notable contributions was the implementation of a systematic and compassionate mechanism to transport urgently required medicinal supplies for patients receiving treatment from the Army Base Hospital, Narahenpita, to personnel and families residing in distant and rural areas of the island through the Army “Liberty” bus transportation network. This humanitarian initiative significantly eased the hardships faced by numerous beneficiaries by enabling them to receive essential medication without the necessity of travelling long distances to the Army hospital.
Over the course of his distinguished military career, Major General Chandana Wickramanayake rendered invaluable service during the Northern and Eastern Humanitarian Operations. During the height of the Northern and Eastern operational theatre, while serving with the 8th Field Engineer Regiment in an infantry role, Major General Chandana Wickramanayake displayed exceptional courage, endurance and battlefield leadership under intense combat conditions. During the enemy offensive known as “Operation Unceasing Waves” in the Eelam War, he was deployed in the strategically vital areas of EPS, Kokkuthuduwai and Kokilai, where he and his troops steadfastly held the last line of defence against determined enemy assaults. Through resolute leadership and unwavering commitment to the mission, he played a crucial role in preventing terrorist forces from penetrating into the Mullaitivu region, thereby contributing significantly to the overall operational effort in the Northern theatre.
One of the most remarkable acts of gallantry in his military career took place on 10 November 1997 in the Mankulam–Kokilai while serving as an Intelligence Officer. Fully conscious of the grave danger to his own life, he courageously approached a burning MI-21 helicopter that had been shot down by terrorists and took decisive action to rescue Air Force personnel trapped within the wreckage. In recognition of this conspicuous act of bravery and self-sacrifice in the face of the enemy, he was awarded the prestigious “Weerodara Vibhushanaya,” the highest gallantry award bestowed upon an officer of his rank in the Sri Lanka Army.
In appreciation of his gallant conduct, distinguished service and unwavering dedication to the nation, he has been decorated with numerous medals and honours, including:
- Weerodara Vibhushanaya
- Rana Sura Padakkama
- North Humanitarian Operation Medal
- East Humanitarian Operation Medal
- Poorna Bhumi Padakkama
- North and East Operations Medal
- Riviresa Campaign Service Medal
- 50th Independence Anniversary Medal
- 75th Independence Day Commemoration Medal
- Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal
- 75th Army Anniversary Medal
- Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
- President’s Inauguration Medal
- Service Medal
- Videsha Seva Padakkama
Major General Chandana Wickramanayake is married to Mrs. G. D. De Dolawaththa and is blessed with a son.
Most notably, he serves as immense distinction as the 25th Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers while concurrently holding the prestigious appointment of Chief Field Engineer at Sri Lanka Army Headquarters.
