Commandant

Major General B K G M L Rodrigo RSP psc IG, an illustrious military officer who possesses wealth of 36 years of distinguished service, assumed duties as the 57 th successor in the office of the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF) with effect from 18 September2024. In addition to his present career destination in the Sri Lanka Army, the senior officer is serving as the Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Artillery.

Major General Lasantha Rodrigo is a battle-hardened officer who groomed by the Sri Lanka Artillery, and exemplified a charismatic role of leadership for safeguarding the solemn decorum of the Sri Lanka Army at every phase of his military career.

The senior officer was born on 01 August 1970 in Colombo. The journey of life filled with twists and turns was intensively inspired by the beacon of his beloved Alma Mater: St’ Benedict’s College - Colombo spurring him to be in a uniform which is woven for a soldier itself who shed his blood and perspiration for one’s soil.During his schooling, he excelled both inacademics and extracurricular activities while foreshadowing of a future leader as a school prefect.

The senior officer enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army on 20 January 1989 under the Cadet Intake 31. He is an alumnus of the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawaand the Indian Military Academy in India, and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 05 October 1990and posted to the 7th Light Regiment of the Sri Lanka Artillery.

In the course of his illustrious and years of military career, the senior officer has served in Command, Staff and Instructional appointments conferred to the respective ranks. Commanding the 18th Regiment of the Sri Lanka Artillery and 661 and 663 Infantry Brigades, and holding the offices of Director, Directorate of Overseas Operations andthe Chief Instructor of the Officers Study Centre of the Sri Lanka Military Academy are career junctures of the senior officer. The tenure as the head of the Directing Staff and the Head of Training Team (HOTT) at the Defence Services Command and Staff College is a remarkable expression of his discipline of training.

Further, the senior officer performed duties as the Officer Commanding of the 66 Infantry Division.The expertise in the training aspect exhibited by the senior officer is extremely precise, and holding the office of the Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College is an inspiring tenure of command that magnified the functions of the training formation qualitatively. The senior officer extended a wide spectrum of errand as the Commander of the Security Forces Headquarters (Central)preceding to the present office of command.

The military career of the Senior Officer has been nourished with professional credentialsof Master of Science in Security and Strategic Studies at theKotelawalaDefence University (KDU) and Master of Science in International Counter-terrorism Fellowship Programme at the National Defence University (NDU) in Washington, D.C, USA.

Further, the career courses of Artillery Young Officers’ Course in India, Officers Physical Training Instructor Course in India, Officers’ Locating Course at the School of Artillery in Pakistan, Advanced Gunnery Course in India, Long Gunnery Staff Course in India and Artillery Battalion Commanders Course in China and HigherDefence Orientation Course in India have credited his military bearing.

Exemplifying an outstanding personalityprowess, the senior officer became the President of the International Students’ Committee,and was elected as the best international student in the year 2020. He was accorded with the International Counter-terrorism FellowshipAwardfor Outstanding Security Cooperation and Understanding in the year 2020 at the National Defence University Washington D.C, USA.

The senior officerhas been adorned with the gallantry award of RanaSuraPadakkamain recognition of his bravery and eminent service in the battlefield. He has also received service decorations of East Humanitarian Operation Medal, North Humanitarian Operation Medal, PurnaBhumiPadakkama, North and East Operations Medal, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal, 75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, Long Service Medal, SevaAbhimani Medal and Service Medal.

He is married to Mrs. SwendriniDisanayaka and blessed with three offspring: a son and two daughters.