BIOGRAPHY

Major General P S Subath Sanjeewa RSP nps psc VIR, has been serving in the Sri Lanka Army for the past 34 years and has extensive experience in assessing and analysing the current and future security environment to identify issues, formulate concepts, and identify options to meet future security challenges. He is a proud product of Ananda College, Colombo. His academic qualifications include a Master of Arts in Security Studies (Combating Terrorism, Policy, and Strategy), from Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA, United States of America; Second Class Upper in Masters in Military Science, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Bangladesh; Masters of Defence Studies, University of Kelaniya, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Diploma in Human Rights, Institution of Human Rights, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Certificate for Computer Driving License, National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority, Colombo, Sri Lanka; Certificate for General Information Technology, Kotelawala Defence University. Besides that, graduation from the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka and training from the Combat Training School, Infantry Training School, and MCTE, MHOW, India, enhanced professional competency and knowledge of international affairs and working in a multi-agency and multicultural environment. Additionally, participating in various partnership programmes with foreign militaries at home and workshops/seminars abroad were also invaluable experiences working in a multinational environment.

His professional career is endowed with a blend of national and international exposure, focusing mainly on specific tactical, operational and strategic military and security concept planning processes in varied and challenging situations. Service in the Reserve Strike Force (53 Division) as the Commander elite force (Air Mobile Brigade) offered an exclusive experience in preparing concepts of operations for joint forces, including force requirements and force planning with other sister services (Navy and Air Force). It opened up a new horizon for interfacing with different ministries of the government and many non-military agencies. It also augmented his ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and value others’ ideas and expertise to achieve organizational goals. Apart from that, he is a good writer and have published many scholarly articles and research papers related to Counter Terrorism & National Security Affairs in various international and local conferences, namely:

• Army Deserters Involvement of Crimes in Sri Lanka Society-2006. (For the fulfilment of M(Def) S Degree, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka).
• Islamic Fundamentalism: Does it Really Fuel Terrorism? 2009 (For the fulfilment of MSc Degree, University of Professionals, Bangladesh).
• Immigration and Effects on National Security of Sri Lanka- 2015-2016. (For the fulfilment of MA Degree, Naval Postgraduate School, California, USA).
• Re-Emergence of LTTE Cells in Sri Lanka: A Comparative analysis to terrorism perspective (International Research Conference, KDU, Sri Lanka, 2017).
• Effectiveness and Transparency Dilemma in Consolidating Democracies (International Research Conference, KDU, Sri Lanka, 2019).

Precious experience of serving as Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Battalion Commander, Brigade Commander, General Officer Commanding and other professional capacities such as Course Officer and Director Academics at Sri Lanka Military Academy; Directing Staff at Defence Services Command and Staff College; Deputy Dean, Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies at Kotelawala Defence University; and Visiting Lecturer for Counter Terrorism and Strategic Studies, and Leadership and Management for the Faculty of Graduate Studies helped develop and analyse future and new threats of terrorism in a dynamic and changing environment. Further, he is also a strategic security planner and has proposed models for the Colombo Security Plan and the Homeland Security Concept for Sri Lanka. Besides that, he also a security analysis and conducted research as on "Re-emerge of the LTTE: A Comparative Analysis on Terrorism Perspective." Major General P S Subath Sanjeewa's main course of study is counter terrorism and national security affairs-related subjects. Further, he served as the chief instructor at the Defence Service Command and Staff College in 2023 and was appointed as the Director of Plans at Army Headquarters in 2024. Finally, he has been appointed as the General Officer Commanding of the 23 Infantry Division from 18 February 2025 onward.

Apart from his academic qualifications, as a Staff Officer/Logistic Staff Officer to Force Headquarters MINUSTAH in Haiti, he organised meetings, conferences and focus group discussions related to force redeployment and critical issues to get expert opinions, reviewed/adjusted the policy or plan and took necessary action to achieve the desired output, taking the team members on board. Informal interactive sessions with all the others at the force HQ to share knowledge and learn from each other fostered comradeship and teamwork by supporting and acting in accordance with final group decisions.

Active service in Counter Insurgency operations in the North and East of Sri Lanka as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Battalion Commander and Brigade Commander-Air Mobile Brigade, General Officer Commanding and participation in the United Nations Pease Support Mission as a Logistic and Planning Officer developed the ability to conduct independent analysis, identify issues, formulate security concepts, and make recommendations. Furthermore, such experience enhanced the ability to produce quality work with limited supervision in an unfamiliar environment. It also enriched his ability to provide sound military suggestions to superior commanders and interact with different counterparts, which eventually helped him understand the dynamic of the peacekeeping missions.

Commissioned as an Army Officer, achieving the Regimental Colours for best sports activities and receiving "Rana Soora Paddakkama" twice for excellent conduct/bravery in Counter Insurgency Operations and the highest appreciation in a professional career will aspire to continue learning. Operational expertise, planning expertise in both force and logistic and security planning, analytical ability, a knack for quick thinking and problem solving in security concepts and computer skills made him an expert in professional security analysis and an intellectual in the academic environment.

Major General P S Subath Sanjeewa has so far completed over 34 years of loyal service in the Sri Lanka Army. He has travelled to many countries during his tenure in the Army. Especially, for military training for the Regimental Signal Officer Course, Young Officer Course and the Junior Command Course in India. Most importantly, he has served as a United Nations Military Staff Officer in the Democratic Republic of Haiti (MINUSTAH) from 2013 to 2014 and attended higher education in the United States of America.

His hobbies include listening to music and playing cricket. He is married to Mrs. Iranthi Dilrukshi Perera and has one daughter, P S Vishmi Narthana.

Academic and Professional Qualifications & Distinction

• Certificate on Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (MPAT) Programme, The United States Indo-Pacific Command, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 2019.
• Masters of Arts in Security Studies - Combating Terrorism, Policy and Strategy, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA 2016.
• Integrity Awareness Initiative online learning programme, the United Nations 2013.
• Certificate Advanced Security in the Field, United Nations Department of Safety & Security 2013 Certificate Basic Security in the Field II, United Nations Department of Safety & Security 2013.
• Defeating Terrorism Sri Lankan Experience (Seminar), Army Head Quarters, Colombo Sri Lanka 2010 Diploma in Human Rights, Institution of Human Rights, Colombo, Sri Lanka - 2011.
• Masters of Science in Military Studies (MSc) - Second Upper Division, University of Professionals, Dhaka, Bangladesh & Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2009.
• Pass Staff College - Qualified with Merit Pass, Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2009.
• Masters of Defence Studies (M def S), University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka & Army Command and Staff College, Sri Lanka 2007.
• Pass Staff College with “Instructor Grading”, Army Command and Staff College, Makola, Sri Lanka 2007.
• Certificate (Computer Driving License), National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority Colombo, Sri Lanka 2006.
• Certificate General Information Technology Skill Course, Kotelawala Defence University, Colombo, Sri Lanka 2006.
• Pass General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level), Ananda College, Colombo, Sri Lanka 1991.

Courses - Foreign & Local.

• Pass Staff College-Qualified with Merit Pass, Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2009.
• Pass Staff College with “Instructor Grading”, Army Command and Staff College, Makola, Sri Lanka 2007.
• Junior Command Course, Combat Training School, MHOW, India 2002.
• Young Officers Course, Infantry Training School, MHOW, India 1999.
• Regimental Signal Officers Course, MCTE, MHOW, India 1998.

Professional Experience in Military/Academic Career (1993-2021).

• General Officer Commanding 23 Infantry Division 2025 To Date
• Director General Directorate of Plans, Army Headquarters 2024-2025.
• Chief Instructor Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sri Lanka 2023-2024
• Commander Airmobile Brigade, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka 2021-2023.
• Colonel General Staff Security Force Headquarters (East), Welikanda, Sri Lanka 2020-2021.
• Registrar General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka 2018-2020.
• Deputy Dean Southern Campus, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sooriyawewa, Sri Lanka 2017-2018.
• Lecturer (Leadership and Management) Faculty of Defence & Strategic Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka 2017.
• Visiting Lecturer (Counter Terrorism/Policy & Strategy) Faculty of Graduate Studies, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka 2017-2019
• Visiting Lecturer (Counter Terrorism & Legal Aspects) Army Training School, Maduruoya 2009-2019.
• Visiting Lecturer (Terrorism, Counter Terrorism & Future Trends) Sri Lanka Army Office Course Development Centre, Buttala 2009- 2019.
• Directing Staff Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda, Sri Lanka 2014-2015.
• Field Logistic Officer MINUSTAH PORT-AU-PRINCE 2013-2014.
• Director Academics Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyathalawa, Sri Lanka 2013.
• Commanding Officer 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, Sri Lanka Army 2009-2013.
• Second in Command Command and Admin Company, 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment 2009.
• Chief Instructor Vijayabahu Training School, Vijayabahu Training School 2007-2008.
• Company Commander Command and Admin Company 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment 2003-2006.
• Officer Instructor Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyathalawa, Sri Lanka 2000-2003.
• Company Commander Rifle Company 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment 1998-2000.
• Adjutant 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment 1996-1998.
• Platoon Commander Rifle Platoon 1st Battalion the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment 1993-1996.

Honours and Medals.

• The Rana Sura Padakkama (Gallantry) – 1995, 2009.
• The 50th Anniversary Commemoration Medal (Commemorative).
• The North Humanitarian Operations Medal (Operational).
• The East Humanitarian Operations Medal (Operational).
• The North & East Operations Medal & Clasp (Campaign).
• The Purna Bhumi Padakkama (War Zone Service).
• The Riviresa Campaign Medal (Campaign).
• The Videsh Sewa Medal (UN Mission).
• 75th anniversary Commemoration Medal (Commemorative).

Professional Exposure at International Level.

• Member/Presenter, KDU International Research Conference 2019.
• Member/Delegate, KDU International Research Conference 2018.
• Delegate/Presenter, Colombo Defence Seminar (Conference Theme: Security in an Era of Global Disruptions) 2018.
• Member/Presenter, KDU International Research Conference 2017.
• Member/Presenter, Defeating Terrorism Research Conference 2017.
• Member/Presenter, Seminar on Terrorism, Current Trends & Challenges Army Training School, Maduruoya. 2017.
• Delegate, Non-Lethal Weapons Executive Seminar, Sri Lanka Navy & US Marine Corps Forces Pacific 2017.
• Student, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA 2015.
• United Nations Military Staff Officer, Democratic Republic of Haiti (MINUSTAH) 2013.
• Student, Defence Servicers Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh 2008.

Academic Publications at International & Local.

• Army Deserters Involvement of Crimes in Sri Lanka Society – 2006. (Fulfilment of M(Def) S Degree - University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka.
• Islamic Fundamentalism does it Really Fuel Terrorism - 2009. (Fulfilment of Msc Degree – University of Professionals, Bangladesh).
• Immigration and Effects on National Security of Sri Lanka- 2015-2016. (Fulfilment of MA Degree - Naval Postgraduate School, California, USA).
• Re-Emergence of LTTE Cells in Sri Lanka: A Comparative analysis to terrorism perspective (International Research Conference. KDU, Sri Lanka) 2017.
• Effectiveness and Transparency Dilemma in Consolidating Democracies (International Research Conference, KDU, Sri Lanka) 2019.

Sports Achievements at International Level.

• Regimental Colors at Best Sports Activities - Rugby.
• Cricket - Club Level and School Level.

Alumni & Memberships.

• Alumni Member Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, USA.
• Alumni Member Defence Services Command and Staff College, Mirpur, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
• Alumni Member Defence Services Command and Staff College, Batalanda, Sri Lanka.
• Vice President Ananda College, Sri Lanka - 91st Group
• Member Mass Media Society, Ananda College, Sri Lanka
• Member Old Boys Association, Ananda College, Sri Lanka
• President of the Sri Lanka Army motor Sport Committee.