Major General MK Jayawardena RSP VSV USP ndu
Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
Major General MK Jayawardena RSP VSV USP ndu, an illustrious military officer who possesses wealth of above 35 years of distinguished service, assumed duties as the 54th successor in the office of the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) with effect from 01 January 2024. Major General MK Jayawardena, a battle-hardened engineer officer groomed by the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers, exemplified a charismatic role of leadership for preserving the solemn decorum of the Sri Lanka Army at every phase of his military career. Simultaneously, the senior officer has been serving as the Colonel Commandant of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers.
Upon successful completion of the Basic Military Training at the Pakistan Military Academy and the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the prestigious Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers; the clan of ‘Sapper’ who is spirited under the catchphrase of “Motherland Honour & Service'” and pledged allegiance as a precise combatant corps, on 09th June1990.
The military stance upheld by the Commandant was exceptionally fostered and moulded on the blessings of his beloved Alma Mater: Royal College, Colombo, and by means of the successful integration in Command, Instructional and Staff appointments during his expedition under varied phenomena.
In the course of his military career, he served as a Troop Commander and Intelligence Officer in 6 Field Engineer Regiment and Officer Commanding in 5 Field Engineer Regiment and 9 Field Engineer Regiment. Later, he performed duties as the General Staff Officer II (Logistics) and General Staff Officer II (Administration) at Regimental Center and held the appointment as the Second-in-command of 5 Field Engineer Regiment. The senior officer has immensely contributed in reinforcement (RFT) and classic engineering duties. He commanded 5 Field Engineer Regiment as the Officiating Commanding Officer and 6 Field Engineer Regiment as the Commanding Officer during the humanitarian operations. His innovative combat engineering contribution extended to 55 Infantry Division during the final stages of the humanitarian operations as an engineer advisor of the division is noteworthy.
Major General MK Jayawardena received the opportunity to hold the appointment of Adjutant of Army Training School, Maduruoya and the senior officer has held other extra regimental employments in the Security Forces Headquarters (Jaffna) as the General Staff Officer I (Coordinating), General Staff Branch Army Headquarters as the General Staff Officer I and in 58 Infantry Division as the Colonel General Staff.
Major General MK Jayawardena exemplified a distinguished capacity under different operational environments holding command appointments such as the Brigade Commander of 581 Infantry Brigade, 612 Infantry Brigade and 141 Infantry Brigade, the Director of Sirisara Pivisuma Project and he extended his plant engineering expertise for nation development projects of the country as the Commander of the Plant Engineering Brigade of Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers. Furthermore, the senior officer extended his duties as the Commander of Forward Maintenance Area (Kilinochchi), the General Officer Commanding of the prestigious 55 Infantry Division and became the General Officer Commanding of the Sri Lanka Army Engineer Division. In addition, the senior officer served as the Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Women’s Corps, the Chief Field Engineer of the Sri Lanka Army and the Commander of the Security Forces Headquarters, Mullaitivu.
In the periphery of local and foreign, Major General M K Jayawardena widened his horizons enlightening his military personality. His professional military career has been fostered due to overseas training courses namely, Officer Cadet Training Course in Pakistan, Engineers’ Young Officers Course in Pakistan, Engineer Officers Earth Moving Plant Workshop & Construction Course in India, Humanitarian Mine Action and Demine Course in Switzerland and Senior Command Course in India. He is a military strategist in the contemporary Army and he has successfully completed his Advance Diploma in Defense and Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in China. He has also followed number of local courses such as Platoon Commander Tactics Course, Field Engineer Basic Course, Plant Operator and Fitter Course, Officers Par Excellence Course, Operational Staff Duties Course, Psychological Operation Course, Defence Attaché Orientation Course, Military Geography Course, and Mine Action and Management Course.
Major General MK Jayawardena has been recognized as a true warrior and adorned with ‘Ranasura Padakkama’ for his bravery in the battle front and ‘Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya’ for his exceptional, distinguished and loyal service throughout his military career and ‘Uththama Seva Padakkama’ for his unblemished military service. Further, due to the exceptional leadership given to the troops by providing active contribution in the humanitarian operations conducted against the ferocious terrorism that gripped the island of Sri Lanka for three decades, he has been awarded with Eastern Operation Medal, Northern Operation Medal, Purna Bhumi Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Riviresa Operation Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal, 75th Independence Day Commemoration Medal, Sewabhimani Padakkama and Service Medal.
Major General MK Jayawardena is married to Mrs. Shammi Jayawardena and blessed with two daughters.