Major General CS Munasinghe WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc IG MSc (NS & SS)
On 04 August 2023, Major General CS Munasinghe WWV RWP RSP USP ndc psc IG became the 16th General Officer Commanding of 12 Infantry Division at Hambantota.
He was born in Colombo on 7th December 1969 and being an only child to the parents of "Architect" father and "Housewife" mother and resides in Kadawatha. He received his primary and secondary education from Carey College Colombo; one of the leading private schools in the country. During school days, he characteristically demonstrated a high level of academic potentiality and actively participated in sports as well as extracurricular activities. As main interests in sports; played cricket and badminton. He was a prefect and reached up to the Deputy Head Prefect of the college. Being a member, he has held several key positions in many number of organizations and committees at the college. Interact Club, English Association, Sinhala Sahithya Sangamaya and Buddhist Association are to name few. He has studied up to GCE (O/L).
To fulfill his childhood aspiration of becoming a soldier, he was enlisted to the Regular Intake 33 of the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 17th January 1990. After completing the basic military training at Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyatalawa, he was commissioned on 15th June 1991 as a 2nd Lieutenant and posted to the Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery. From the time he joined to the Regiment, he demonstrated and maintained a very high standard by character and profession. He is an officer who always adhered to the military customs & norms and followed the principles of an authentic military person. At the Regiment, his initial posting was to serve in the most prestigious 4th Field Regiment and in subsequent phase, served in 8th Medium Regiment, 9th Field Regiment, 10th Medium Regiment and 11th RFT Regiment. During the memorable time at the Regiment of Artillery, he has held every command appointments that a Gunner officer should hold. He was privileged and be the only officer to command three Artillery Regiments, the 9th and 15th Field Regiments and became the Father of the 1st UAV Regiment of Sri Lanka Army, forming and commanding the 15th UAV Regiment. Also he was the Officer Commanding of Presidential Security during former President Mrs Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaranathunga for 3 years, from 1996 to 1999.
In his long tour of duty, he has followed a number of local and overseas courses. Some of the courses are, the Artillery Young Officers’ Preparatory Course at the School of Artillery Minneriya, the Defence Staff Command and Staff Course at Batalanda , the National Defence College Course at Colombo, Artillery Young Officers’ Course at India, Mid Career Course in Pakistan, Officers Gunnery Staff Course in Pakistan and Battalion Command Course in China. Over above, he participated in official tours in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, India, China and Israel.
Major General Chamila Munasinghe is a well-recognized Senior Officer in the Sri Lanka Army for his professionalism, dedication and commitment in terms of military aspects. He has a very high level of scholarly knowledge on international affairs, geo-politics and national security concerns. Over and above he was an indispensable person for the operations conducted during the war time in Sri Lanka.
During the tour of duty, he served in both operational and peace areas of the country in different capacities. ‘Akunu Pahara’, ‘Balawegaya’, ‘Green Belt’, ‘Thunder Srike’, ‘Sath Balaya’, ‘Yal Devi’, ‘Leap Forward’, ‘Riviresa’, ‘Rivi Kirana’, ‘Rana Gosa’, ‘Batticaloa North’, ‘Sath Jaya’ are few of the main military operations that he physically attended both in the capacity of an Artillery Forward Observation Officer and Gun Position Officer. Over above, he rendered his active participation in over 25 limited military operations as a Forward Observation Officer and Gun Position Officer, becoming one of the few Artillery officers who had contributed for that number of operations. His contribution and bravery was personally commended by then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaranathunga, in the face of enemy at the most famous Welioya Operation in 1995. And he was one of the very few who volunteered to take part in the rescue mission of Mulativu as a Forward Observation Officer in 1996. He was injured during operation ‘Sathjaya II’ at Paranthan in 25 July 1996. During the final phase of Eelam War IV, he was fully engaged in humanitarian operations. Especially during the Wanni Humanitarian Operations being the 2nd in Command as an Artillery Coordinator for the 57 Infantry Division and later as a General Staff Officer Grade I (Operations) of Security Forces Headquarters (Wanni). He made a noticeable contribution as a staff officer, assisting the Security Forces Commanders of Security Forces(Wanni)in all means to handle reception, rehabilitation, resettlement and reintegration of IDPs. Also, acted as a point of contact and coordinated over 30 INGOs and NGOs worked based in Vavuniya during the Wanni Humanitarian Operations.
He became the first Artillery officer to be awarded the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya (WWV) in the year 1995 for his exceptional bravery act in the face of the enemy during operation ‘Riviresa’. As mentioned in the citation for recommending the medal, had it not been for the gallantry displayed by him on that very critical occasion of the second day of operation, the result of the ‘Operation Riviresa’ might have been entirely different. Also, he has been awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) and Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) for the gallant acts demonstrated in the field. Apart from those, 15 more campaign and service medals have been awarded.
During his unblemished illustrious military career, he has served in various command, staff and instructional appointments. Such as Company Commander at Sri Lanka Military Academy as an Officer Cadet Instructor and Directing Staff of the Officer's Study Centre at Diyatalawa, General Staff Officer 1(Operations) at the Security Forces Headquarters(Wanni) Vavuniya, General Staff Officer 1(Coordinating) at Defence Services Command and Staff College Batalanda, Colonel General Staff at the Security Forces Headquarters (Central) Diyatalawa. After the completion of the National Defence College course, he was posted to the same prestigious institute as a Senior Directing Staff (Army).
Firstly, posting to artillery though, due to the exigency of young officers and troops at infantry battalions, with troop attached to infantry regiments he has served in Gamunu Watch too. He was first posted to 6 GW Nanattan Mannar, thereby to 4 GW, 8 GW and ended his temporary postings having been served at 3(V) GW in Vankalai Mannar.
Also he has served under the prestigious United Nations as a Military Staff Officer at MINUSTAH - Haiti from 21st January 2014 to 30th June 2015, as an Operation Analyst at the Joint Mission Analysis Center (JMAC).
Later, commanded two Infantry Brigades, 681 at Mulativu Vellamullivaikkal and 141 Brigades at Gampaha Veyangoda. As an officer who belongs to the Regiment of Artillery,he had the great opportunity that very few officers get to command the Artillery Brigade. He commanded Artillery Brigade for nearly 18 months.
Without restricting to develop knowledge on military matters and subjects, he has devoted time to explore and enhance the knowledge on national security concerns, geopolitics, economic security and many other aspects too. He holds an MSc in (NS & SS) as the highest educational qualification.
In addition to his military functions and actions, he is a nature lover and a traveler. No matter what form he acts in outward appearance and certain actions, inside he is a very sensitive and humble, selfless and generous person. He is a life member of Wildlife and Nature Protection Society and Japan Lanka Friendship Association where he actively appearing and taking part in activities related to those organizations.
Collecting Paper & Coin currency, collecting Stamps and traveling are the main hobbies. To explore the world as a traveler he has traveled over 30 countries by now.
In the year 1995 he got married to a lovely lady Mrs Chathuri Sumedha and gifted with two precious sons Minul and Dinul.
