Brigadier H A Hapugoda USACGSC
Principal Staff Officer – Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force
Brigadier H A Hapugoda USACGSC assumed duties as the 11th successor in the office of the Principal Staff Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force on 29 December 2025 at the Headquarters of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
Brigadier Aravinda Hapugoda, born March 9, 1973, was a distinguished student at Dhammissara National School, excelling in academics and sports, leading him to a prominent career in the Sri Lanka Army.
Driven by a strong sense of patriotism, he enlisted in the Regular Force of the Sri Lanka Army on October 22, 1994, under the Intake 12 as an Officer Cadet at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
Having completed his basic military training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 20 December 1997 and was posted to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment: a proud and prestigious regiment of the Sri Lanka Army commencing his military career.
The senior officer has gained a wealth of experience through extensive training programmes, both locally and internationally. His local training includes the Young Officers’ Course, Basic Marksmanship Course at Diyatalawa, Junior Command Course at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa, and the Command and Staff Course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Batalanda. His international training includes the Young Officers’ Course in India, the Counter-Insurgency and Jungle Warfare Course in India, the Officers’ Mid-Career Course in Pakistan, the Command and Staff Course in the United States, the United Nations Military Observers’ Course in Malaysia, United Nations Training of Trainers on Protection of Civilians in Malaysia, United Nations Induction Training in Uganda, Asia Pacific Security Conference in Singapore and Senior Command Course in India.
During his military service spanning over 31 years , the senior officer leads an extensive career, detailing numerous command, staff, training, and UN peacekeeping roles, demonstrating versatility in the establishment, culminating in key military appointments. In the sphere of command, he served as a Platoon Commander and a Company Commander of the 1st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, and became the Commanding Officer of the 20th Battalion of the same regiment. He commanded the 121 Infantry Brigade and completed his tenure recently.
His staff appointments were equally significant, including roles as Intelligence Officer of the 1st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, General Staff Officer 2 (Operations) at the 53 Infantry Division Headquarters, Operations and Training Officer of the 6th Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment , Brigade Major of the 682 Infantry Brigade, Staff Officer 1 at the Military Secretary’s Branch, Colonel General Staff of the 59 Infantry Division, and Assistant Military Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Defence. He also contributed extensively in the instructional and training domain, serving as an Officer Instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa, as a Directing Staff and Senior Instructor at the Army Training School in Maduru Oya, Directing Staff at the Defence Services Command and Staff College in Batalanda and Directing Staff at the Officer Career Development Centre in Buttala.
His special staff appointments include Aide-de-Camp to the Commander of the Army and the Chief of Defence Staff, and Assistant Military Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Defence, where he was deeply involved in defence diplomacy and liaison with foreign Defence Attaches.
Throughout the decades-long struggle to liberate Sri Lanka from terrorism, the senior officer actively contributed in humanitarian operations and provided leadership in the Northern and Eastern battlefronts. He earned decorations, including East Humanitarian Operation Medal, North Humanitarian Operation Medal, Purna Bhoomi Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Medal, 75th Independence Day Commemoration Medal, Sri Lanka Army 50th Army Anniversary Medal, 75th Army Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, Sewabhimani Medal , Service Medal, Foreign Service Medal and the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal – South Sudan.
The senior officer has extensive experience in United Nations Peacekeeping Operations, including a one-year deployment as a Military Liaison Officer with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), for which he was awarded the UN Medal and received an outstanding performance report. Similarly, he has completed multiple UN-certified courses. He also serves as a Visiting Lecturer in UN peacekeeping training, contributing to observer and staff officer development programmes.
Strengthening his academic foundation, the senior officer holds Post Graduate Degrees: Masters in Conflict and Peace Studies at the University of Colombo, Masters in Defence and Strategic Studies at the University of Kelaniya, Bachelor of Arts (Defence Studies) at the Kotelawala Defence University, Diploma in Intermediate Level of Education (Common Core and Advanced Operations) at the United States Army General and Staff College, KS, USA and Diploma in Higher Defence Management in India.
The senior officer is a highly decorated and academically accomplished professional with extensive experience in command, staff UN peacekeeping, military instruction, research, and defence diplomacy. He has received multiple national and international commendations, conducted research on protection of civilians and security studies, served as a senior military educator, and completed advanced professional training and seminars worldwide, maintaining strong affiliations with leading defence and security institutions.
Brigadier Aravinda Hapugoda is married to Mrs. Reka Sandamali and blessed with one offspring.