Lieutenant-general (Sri Lanka)
Lieutenant general (abbreviated as Lt. Gen. and pronounced 'lef-tenant general') (Sinhala: ලුතිනන් ජෙනරාල් Lutinan Jenaral) is the second-highest active rank of the Sri Lanka Army. It was created as a direct equivalent of the British military rank of lieutenant general, and is considered a three-star rank.
| Lieutenant General | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country |  Sri Lanka |
| Service branch |  Sri Lanka Army |
| Abbreviation | Lt Gen |
| Rank | Three Star |
| NATO rank code | OF- 8 |
| Formation | 1949 |
| Next higher rank | General |
| Next lower rank | Major General |
| Equivalent ranks |  Sri Lanka Navy - Vice admiral  Sri Lanka Air Force - Air marshal |
The rank of lieutenant general is held by the Commander of the Army. The rank was also held when an army officer served as the General Officer Commanding, Joint Operations Command between 1985 and 1991.
Lieutenant-general is a superior rank to major-general, but subordinate to a full general which is awarded to the Chief of the Defence Staff or as a ceremonial rank. The rank has a NATO rank code of OF-8, equivalent to a vice-admiral in the Sri Lanka Navy and an air marshal in the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) and the air forces of many Commonwealth countries. Unlike other ranks, a Lieutenant-general does not have a maximum permissible service period to hold the rank before having to retire due to lack of promotion to the next rank.[1]
Insignia
The rank insignia for rank is a Sri Lanka emblem over a crossed sabre and baton, and it follows British style and Indian style gorget patchs on different uniforms.
History
In 1974, then commander of the army, Sepala Attygalle was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-general. Since then all army commanders retired with the rank of Lieutenant-general and Tissa Weeratunga and Cyril Ranatunga served as General Officer Commanding, Joint Operations Command with the rank of Lieutenant-general. Ranatunga was appointed directly to the rank of Lieutenant-general, without holding the rank of Major-general having been recalled from retirement. Since 1986, the serving commander of the army held the rank of Lieutenant-general. Since 1991, it became customary for all commanders of the army to be promoted to the rank of General on the final day of service if they were retiring or appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff. In 2007, two former commanders of the army were also promoted to the rank of General. In addition to officers appointed as Army Commander or GOC, Joint Operations Command; four officers of the rank of Major General have been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General, three of these have been posthumously as these officers either had been killed in action or assassinated.
List of Lieutenant Generals
- Lieutenant General Denzil Kobbekaduwa †
- Lieutenant General Parami Kulatunga †
- Lieutenant General Nalin Angammana †
- Lieutenant General Henry Athukorale (Retired)
See also
References
- "RETIREMENT - REGULATION PROCESS AND PRACTICE". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
- Army, Sri Lanka. (1st Edition - October 1999). "50 YEARS ON" - 1949-1999, Sri Lanka Army. ISBN 955-8089-02-8