10th July 2023 17:23:02 Hours
The funeral of Lieutenant Colonel Sudesh Ranasinghe, Staff Officer 1 (Logistics) Army Sports Development Village – Panagoda who passed away on Wednesday (05) at base hospital Homagama due to sudden illness, took place at General Cemetery, Galavilawaththna on Friday (07) amidst military honours and a gathering of his close military colleagues, family members and mourners.
The Commander of the Army and also the Colonel of the Regiment Sri Lanka National Guard Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage RWP RSP ndu paid his respect at the military funeral. At the cemetery, large number of Officers and Other Rankers paid their final salute to the late officer.
The full text of the Part I Order issued by Colonel of the Regiment on the demise of Lieutenant Colonel Sudesh Ranasinghe is as follows:
LATE - LIEUTENANT COLONEL RPKSS RANASINGHE SLNG (O/4645)
It is with deep regret and profound sadness that the Colonel of the Regiment and all members of the Guardians Family pronounce the demise of Lieutenant Colonel RPKSS Ranasinghe SLNG on 05 July 2023.
Ranasinghe PetikirikoralalageSudesh Samantha Ranasinghe was born to late Mr. R.P.KPiyadasa Ranasinghe and Mrs.N.E.D.W Ranasinghe on 31 July 1973, as a member of a respectable family in Badulla. He received his primary and Secondary education from Badulla Central Collage. He has shown a distinguished stance in sports and other extracurricular activities during his school career.
At the completion of his school education, Lieutenant Colonel Ranasinghe had decided to serve his motherland and nation. He enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force as an Officer Cadet on 30 June 1994. Upon successful completion of the military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in the rank of Second Lieutenant on 16 December 1994. Then young Second Lieutenant RPKSS Ranasinghe was posted to the 3rd Battalion of Sri Lanka National Guard. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 17 June 1997, Captain on 20 December 2001, Major on 05 September 2009 and Lieutenant Colonel on 22 May 2020.
During his outstanding military career over more than 29 years in the Army, he improved his tactical and theoretical knowledge by following many courses, such as:
Young Officers Course
Adjutant Course
Unit Admin and Account Course
Tamil Course
Basic Intelligence Course
Forward Observation Officer Course
Battalion Support Weapons Course
Junior Staff Course
Civil Affairs Course
Junior Command Course
The Senior Officer made a significant contribution to the Sri Lanka Army through the knowledge he gained from the courses and the experience he acquired over the years.
He performed duties in operational and non-operational areas during his 29 years of military service. He held the following appointments during his career:
Platoon Commander - 3rd Battalion of Sri Lanka National Guard –Singhapura
IS Officer - Defence Services Command and Staff College - Batalanda
Officer Commanding - 3rd and 8th Battalions of Sri Lanka National Guard Singhapura and Thoppigala
Major (Admin &Quartering) - 621 Infantry Brigade – Mullitivu
Second in Command - 19th Battalion of Sri Lanka National Guard - Jaffna
Second in Command (Sector 2) - 14 Infantry Division - Colombo
Commanding Officer - 2nd Battalion of Sri Lanka National Guard - Pooneryn
Staff Officer 1 (Log) - Sports Development Village - Panagoda
Lieutenant Colonel Sudesh Ranasinghe was a capable and effective military leader blessed with professional competence to be looked upon as an example to his subordinates. Further, he has been awarded the following service medals in recognition of his contribution to the operational duties as well as his dedicated and commendable service rendered to the Sri Lanka Army:
Eastern Humanitarian Operation Medal
Northern Humanitarian Operation Medal
PurnaBhumiPadakkama
North and East Operations Medal
RiviresaCampaign Service Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Medal
75th Independence day Commemoration Medal
Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal
Sewabhimani Medal
Service Medal
Demise of Lieutenant Colonel Sudesh Ranasinghe has drawn a curtain of gloom. He leaves behind his beloved family members, friends, brother officers, soldiers, and the nation to which he served with dedication and patriotism. We extend our sincere condolence to all of them with an endless thought in an appreciation of a gentleman officer, a friend, and a brother. His passing away definitely is an irreparable loss to his family, the service he represented and the country he served. On this gloomy occasion, the Colonel of the Regiment and all members of the Guardian Family joined in deep sympathy to the family members of late Lieutenant Colonel RPKSS Ranasinghe.
The funeral of late Lieutenant Colonel R P K S S Ranasinghe takes place with full military honours befitting to the rank at Galawilawaththa, Niyadagalacrematorium at 1700 hours on 07 July 2023.
Late Lieutenant Colonel Sudesh Ranasinghe, though you have departed, your name and exceptional service to the Army will always be remembered. Your noteworthy contribution towards the growth of the establishment would be cherished by all that follow. Your name remains as a true son of Mother Lanka eternally.
‘MAY HE ATTAIN THE SUPREME BLISS OF NIRVANA’
