23rd January 2018 15:01:47 Hours
Maj Gen RV Udawatta psc ato assumed duties as the new deputy chief of staff, the third highest appointment of the Sri Lanka Army on Thursday, 15 December 2016 amidst greetings and best wishes. This is the highest office hold by any Ordnance Corps Officer in the Sri Lanka Army History.
Maj Gen Renaka Udawatta has been serving as the Director General Financial Management branch of the Army before he was appointed to this office and also he is the present Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps.
Major General Udawatta was born on 31.07.1962 and had his primary education at Piliyandala Kanista Vidayalaya. Having passed the Grade 5 scholarship examination with flying colours, he got the rare opportunity of entering the Royal College, Colombo 07.
He joined the Sri Lanka Army (Regular Force) as an Officer Cadet on 31 August 1981 and underwent basic military training at the then Army Training Centre - Diyathalawa. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 18 July 1982 and posted afterwards to the SLAOC. Before this appointment, he served as the Director, Ordnance Services and the Director, Assets Managements at the Army Headquarters.
He also has successfully completed following local and overseas courses during his military career. His overseas courses included Basic Ordnance Management Course No 6 India, Defence Procurement Contracting Course (Offrs) 21 Pakistan, Ammunition Technical Officer Course 57 Pakistan, Senior Defence Management Course 67 India, Defence Services Command & Staff College (psc) - Bangladesh. (First SLAOC Officer to qualify from an overseas staff college), United Nations Logistics Officers Course Italy and the Higher Ordnance Management Course 24 India.
In addition, he is at present reading for a PhD at Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Ratmalana having obtained a Masterâs in Management (Defence Studies) degree from the same university.
To his credit, he has participated in the following seminars & visits; Ordnance Factory Visit Pakistan, Procurement of Armored vehicle and Administration Inspection - Russia, Slovakia, Inspection of Ammo Singapore, Head of Sri Lanka delegation to Conference on Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) in UNHQ - New York, USA in 2011, Represented as Deputy Manager of Sri Lanka Defence Services Judo in Brazil (2011), Represented Sir Lanka in PASOLS - 41 seminar in Australia 2014, Head of Sri Lanka delegation to Conference on Contingent Owned Equipment (COE) in New York, USA in 2014, Head of Sri Lankan delegation to India in 2014 to learn the techniques of Army cantonments and welfare canteen systems in India and a few others.
During his career of more than 34 years, he has held a variety of appointments. Some of those included Group Officer- Base Ordnance Depot, Panagoda, Officer-In-Charge - Ordnance Store Section, Panagoda, Platoon Commander Headquarters of the then Non-commissioned officers Recruit Training School (NRTS) at Diyatalawa, Adjutant - HQ NRTS, Group Officer - Base Ordnance Depot, Panagoda, Officer Commanding Ammo Depot - Central Arms and Ammo Depot, Army Headquarters , Colombo, Adjutant - Regiment of Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps, Panagoda, Officer Commanding - Army Base Ordnance Depot, Anuradhapura, Staff Officer III - Directorate of Logistic, Army Headquarters, Colombo, Staff Officer II - Directorate of Logistic, Army Headquarters, Colombo, Officer Commanding - Army Base Ordnance Depot, Minneriya, Major (Admin & Quartering) - 3 Brigade Headquarters, Batticaloa, Staff Officer I (Admin & Quartering) - Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna, General Staff Officer I (Ops ) - 52 Division, Jaffna, Commandant - Central Arms and Ammo Depot, Kosgama, Staff Officer I - Directorate of Ordnance Services, Army Headquarters, Colonel (Admin & Quartering) - Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna, Colonel (Admin & Quartering) - Army Command & Staff College, Batalanda, Center Commandant - Regimental Center, Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps, Panagoda, Director - Directorate of Assets Management, Army Headquarters, Colombo before he was appointed to the present appointment as Director - Directorate of Ordnance Services, Army Headquarters Colombo, Director General - Financial Management Branch (AHQ) and Colonel Commandant- Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps.
He has been awarded following medals in recognition of his service to the organization and the country during his illustrious career; East Humanitarian Operation Medal, North Humanitarian Operation Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal and Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal.
He also serves as a Corporate Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Management, Corporate Member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Material Management, Visiting Lecturer at the KDU and the Chairman, Army Judo Committee.
