Commander Security Forces (West)

Major General Lanka Amarapala was born in Colombo on 23 June 1970 and he is a proud product of Dharmapala College, Pannipitiya where he also excelled in sports such as cricket, football, athletics, swimming and karate. He was enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army on 20 January 1989 as an Officer Cadet to the Regular Intake 31. Upon completion of his initial military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa and subsequently at the Indian Military Academy, Dehradun, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and joined the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers.

He participated in the majority of the military operations conducted in Sri Lanka, holding different responsibilities in various appointments and ranks. He has long service experience in the fields of Counter Terrorist Operations as an Infantry and Combat Engineering Officer. Major General Lanka Amarapala commanded the 10th Field Engineer Regiment in an infantry role in 2009, humanitarian de-mining and resettlement of IDPs in 2010 in Jaffna, and the 6th Field Engineer Regiment in Kilinochchi and Wanni during the post-war nation building phase. Thereafter, he was appointed as a Directing Staff at the most prestigious Command and Staff College in Sri Lanka.

He also had the opportunity to serve for the United Nations twice, first as a Contingent Commander in the United Nations Mission in Haiti in 2008 and then as the Deputy Senior Military Liaison Officer in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan from 2014 to 2016. Furthermore, he was privileged and honoured to serve as the Aide De Camp (ADC) to the Late Major General Janaka Perera the General Officer Commanding – 53 Division (Reserve Strike Force), Overall Operation Commander – North and the Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army from 1996 to 2000. Currently, Major General Lanka Amarapala holds the appointment of the Commander of Security Forces (West), Overall Operation Commander (Western Province & Puttalam District), and Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers.

Among his major career achievements, Major General Lanka Amarapala has held the following esteemed appointments:

• Officer Instructor at the prestigious Sri Lanka Military Academy from 1995 - 1996.
• Aide De Camp (ADC) to Late Major General Janaka Perera the General Officer Commanding – 53 Division (Reserve Strike Force), Overall Operations Commander - North and the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army from 1996 to 2000.
• Squadron Commander – 5th Field Engineer Regiment, Jaffna from 2001 to 2003.
• Company Commander at the Sri Lanka Military Academy from 2004 to 2006.
• Adjutant – General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in 2006/2007.
• General Staff Officer 1 (Operations) Task Force 2, Offensive Division raised during Humanitarian Operation in 2008.
• Contingent Commander - Tri Forces Contingent in UN Peacekeeping in Haiti (MINUSTA) in 2008.
• Commanding Officer – 10th Field Engineer Regiment in 2009/2010 (Infantry Role).
• Commanding Officer – 6th Field Engineer Regiment in 2010/2011.
• Directing Staff - Defence Services Command and Staff College from 2011 to 2013.
• Commandant - Sri Lanka School of Military Engineering 2013/2014.
• Deputy Senior Military Liaison Officer in UN - South Sudan from 2014 - 2016(UNMISS).
• Deputy Centre Commandant - Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers in 2016/2017.
• Centre Commandant (Overlooking) – Crops of Sri Lanka Engineer in 2017.
• Brigade Commander - Infantry Brigades 593 and 122 from 2018 to 2020.
• Director - Psychological Operations of Sri Lanka Army 2021/2022.
• General Officer Commanding - 12 Infantry Division in the year 2022.
• The Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Engineer Division in the year 2022/2023.
• The Chief Field Engineer of the Sri Lanka Army in the year 2023.
• Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Engineer Services in the year 2023/2024.
• The Director General Financial Management of the Sri Lanka Army in the year 2023/2024.

The Senior Officer has successfully followed the under mentioned local and overseas courses in different stages during his illustrious military career.

Local

• Regimental Signal Officer Course.
• Basic and Advance Intelligence and Security Officer Course.
• Basic and Advance Marksmanship Course.
• Marksmanship Coacher Course.
• Parachute Course.
• Humanitarian Mine Action Basic Management Course Conducted by US Army.
• International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights Course.
• Air Assault Course Conducted by US Special Forces.
• Explosive Ordnance Disposal Level - II Course Conducted by US Army.
• Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive Course.
• Defence Service Command and Staff Course.

Overseas

• Basic Engineering Course – Pakistan.
• South Asian Peacekeeping Operations Multi Platoon Training Exercise - Nepal.
• Humanitarian De- Mining Course – Pakistan.
• Engineer Officers Combat Engineering Instructors Course – India.
• Bomb Disposal / Improvised Explosive Devices – India.
• Peacekeeping Staff Planning Exercise Conducted by US Pacific Command–Malaysia.
• Dialogue, Negotiation and Mediation Course – Kenya.
• International Training Cycle on Assistance and Protection Against Chemical Weapons and Emergency Response to Chemical Incidents – German and Pakistan.
• Regional Workshop on Developing a National Framework for Managing the Response to Criminal or International Unauthorized Acts Involving
• Material Out of Regulatory Council – Japan.
• Masters of National Security Administration Course (NDC) – Philippines.

Major General Amarapala holds a Masters Degree in National Security Administration (MNSA) from the National Defence College of the Philippines and a Masters Degree in Defence Studies (Management) from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. He has successfully followed the Command & Staff College Course (psc), holds a National Diploma in Human Resource Management from the Institute of Personnel Management (SL), and holds Post Graduate Diplomas in International Relations (PGD in IR) from the Bandaranaike Centre for International Studies (SL), and Diploma in Managing Olympic Sport Organisations (Dip - MOSO) from the National Olympic Committee (SL). He is recognised as a Senior Certified Professional by the International Public Management Association for Human Resources in the USA (IPMA-SCP). He is a member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Training and Development (SLITAD) and an Honorary Member of CMETSL.

Major General Lanka Amarapala is the first ever Sri Lankan to secure prestigious academic excellence in the National Defence College of the Philippines, bagging two medals (Gold & Bronze). He was awarded both Gold Medal for the Best Thesis and the Bronze Medal for Academic Excellence in the Masters Degree Course (National Security Administration Regular Course-56 2020/2021). Apart from that, having considered the recognition of his outstanding achievements in the fields of national security, development and performance, Major General Lanka Amarapala was awarded the Outstanding Alumnus Award for 2022 by the National Defence College of the Philippines and NDCP Alumni Association Inc. Furthermore, Major General Lanka Amarapala's leadership and contributions were honoured with the Global HR Leadership Award at the Global HR Excellence 2024 organised by the World HRD Congress, underscoring his exceptional capabilities and dedication to the field of Human Resources Development in the Global platform. Adding glamour to Major General Lanka Amarapala’s continuing effort in the field of HR, his exceptional leadership, and his commitment to excellence the Word HRD Congress awarded him his 5th International Award in collaboration with CMO Asia as an exceptional individual deserving of the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award at the Sri Lanka Best Employer Brand Awards & Sri Lanka Leadership Awards - 2024 ceremony. Moreover, he is a PhD candidate in International Relations at the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Major General Amarapala is a keen sportsman who has won Army colours and Regimental colours for Practical Pistol Shooting, Badminton, Squash, and Golf. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Army Gymnastics Committee in 2016/2017 and as the Chairman from 2018 to 2020. Additionally, he chaired the Army Squash Committee in 2022/2023 and currently holds the position as the chairman of Sri Lanka Army Golf Committee since January 2024.

For his bravery demonstrated in the face of the enemy during Counter Terrorist Operations against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), he was awarded the RANA WICKRAMA and RANA SURA GALLANTRY MEDALS. He has also received United Nations, Foreign Service, and other military campaigns and service medals. Major General Lanka Amarapala is married to Surangi and blessed with two children daughter, Tanuli and son Virul.