Vikum Liyanage

Lieutenant General H.L.V.M. Liyanage, widely known as Vikum Liyanage, is a senior Sri Lanka Army officer. He is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Army serving from 1 June 2022.[1] Prior to become the army commander, he was the 59th Chief of Staff of the Army. On 1 June 2022, Liyanage assumed as 24th Commander of Sri Lankan Army.[2] Earlier, he served as the Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force as a Major General.[3]

Lieutenant General

Vikum Liyanage
විකුම් ලියනගේ

RWP, RSP, ndu
Born (1967-12-31) 31 December 1967
Matale, Sri Lanka
AllegianceSri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Army
Years of service1987 - present
Rank Lieutenant General
UnitGajaba Regiment
Commands heldCommander of the Army
Chief of Staff of the Army
21 Division
57 Division
215 Brigade
623 Brigade
8 Gajaba Regiment
Battles/warsEelam War IV
Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards
Rana Wickrama Padakkama
Rana Sura Padakkama
Spouse(s)Janaki Liyanage
ChildrenA daughter and a son

Military career

Liyanage joined the Sri Lanka Army on 27 October 1986 in the Regular Intake – 26. He got training in the Sri Lanka Military Academy and in the Pakistan Military Academy. After successful completion of training, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Gajaba Regiment in 23 July 1987.[4]

As a Major he served as the second-in-command of the 10 Gajaba Regiment; in the rank of lieutenant colonel he served as the commanding officer of 8 Gajaba Regiment. In the rank of full colonel, he served as the sector commander of Colombo Rifles Operations Command; as a Brigadier he served as the brigade commanders of 215 and 623 brigades. As a Major General he was the division commander of 21 Division and 57 Division and also the corps commander of the Security Forces Headquarters - West and later he served as the volunteer force commandant.

He has also served as director - psychological operations, director (doctrine and training) and director (operations and systems) in the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff (OCDS) as a Colonel; adjutant - General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University as a Major, staff officer -2 (admin) - regimental centre of the Gajaba Regiment and staff officer 2 - directorate of staff duties at the Army HQ (as a Major).

Personal life

Liyanage is a past pupil of Vijaya College, Matale.[5][6] He is married to Janaki and the couple is blessed with a daughter and a son.

Awards and decorations

He has received some of the highest awards in the Sri Lankan armed forces, which includes the Rana Wickrama Padakkama and the Rana Sura Padakkama.

Rana Wickrama Padakkama(with two bars) Rana Sura Padakkama(with bar)
Desha Putra Sammanaya Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal

(with clasp)

 Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal

(with clasp)

 Purna Bhumi Padakkama
North and East Operations Medal(with clasp) Riviresa Campaign Services Medal

(with clasp)

 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal 75th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal
Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal Sewabhimani Padakkama Sewa Padakkama


References
  1. "Sri Lanka : Major General Vikum Liyanage appointed as the new Sri Lanka Army Commander". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  2. "Major General Vikum Liyanage to be appointed as New Army Commander". NewsWire. 2022-05-26. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  3. "Major General Vikum Liyanage Appointed New Army Chief of Staff". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2021-12-07. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  4. "New Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage Assumes Duties". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
  5. "Alma-Mater Felicitates Major General Vikum Liyanage". army.lk. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  6. "New Army Commander Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage Assumes Duties". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 2022-06-01. Retrieved 2022-06-06.
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