By Shamindra Ferdinando
President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who also holds the Defence portfolio, has given a one-year extension to Commander of the Army, Lt. Gen. Vikum Liyanage.The Defence Ministry confirmed the issuance of the extension letter.
Liyanage, of the Gajaba Regiment, was to retire at the end of this month. Liyanage succeeded Gen. Shavendra Silva, on June 01, in the wake of countrywide violence, triggered by the May 09 attacks on those protesting at Galle Face, and opposite Temple Trees, demanding the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government. Gen Silva remains the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), a post he simultaneously held as Commander of the Army.
Lt. Gen. Liyanage was not available for comment.At the time of the launch of high profile protest campaign, opposite the private residence of the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, at Pangiriwatte, Mirihana, on March 31, the then Maj. Gen. Liyanage served as Army Chief of Staff.
President Wickremesinghe has granted the Army Chief an extension, amidst intense speculation regarding his successor. Some alleged that the appointment would be made at the expense of the seniority list. However, President Wickremesinghe has decided to retain Lt. Gen. Liyanage, who held the command at the time of the change of government, on July 20.
As a result of the service extension, over a dozen officers, holding the Majors General rank, would retire over the next 12 months.Of the service commanders, who attended Wickremesinghe’s inauguration, as the eight Executive President, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne was the first to retire. Ulugetenne was promoted to the rank of Admiral and retired on Dec. 18, to pave the way for Rear Admiral Priyantha Perera.
Air Marshall Sudarshana Pathirana, who received the appointment as the Commander of the Air Force, from the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, in early Nov. 2020, is the remaining service commander.
President Wickremesinghe also replaced the Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) with General Shantha Kottegoda, one-time Commander of the Army, who served as the Secretary, Ministry of Defence, following the 2019 Easter Sunday attacks. He has succeeded General Gerry de Silva. The former Gemunu Watch veteran received the appointment from the then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, on January 20, 2020.The President’s Office said that Gen. Kottegoda’s appointment was effective, with immediate effect, for a period of five years.
