Priyanka Fernando

Major General Priyanka Fernando, RWP, USP, is a senior Sri Lanka Army officer, the Director General of General Staff (DGGS)[1] of the Sri Lanka Army, and the Colonel of the Regiment of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment. Before being appointed as the DGGS, he served as the General officer commanding (GOC) of the 58 Division. Maj. Gen. Fernando held several senior appointments in the army, such as Commandant of the Ranaviru (veterans) resource centre, Director of Rehabilitation, and the Director of Real Estate and Quartering. Previously, he served as the Sri Lankan military attaché in London. Fernando was also the Parade commander of the 73rd Independence Day, which took place on the 4th of February 2021.[2] [3]

General

Priyanka Fernando

RWP, USP
Native name
ප්‍රියංක ප්‍රනාන්දු
BornColombo, Sri Lanka
AllegianceSri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Army
Years of service1986 - 2021
Rank Major general
UnitGemunu Watch
Commands heldDirector General General Staff (DGGS)

Mechanized Infantry Regiment
Gemunu Watch
58 Division
651 Brigade
511 Brigade
221 Brigade

11th Battalion, Gemunu Watch
Battles/wars
Sri Lankan Civil War
Eelam War IV
Awards RWP

USP

Desha Putra Sammanaya

Early life and education

Fernando was educated at D. S. Senanayake College.[4] While at D. S. Senanayake, he received a sports scholarship to Australia, completed it, and returned to Sri Lanka. He reenrolled at D. S. Senanayake College after his return. After college, he joined the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA) and was trained at the Pakistan Military Academy.

Military Career

Fernando joined the Sri Lanka Army as a cadet officer, received his basic training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Gemunu Watch. After joining the Gemunu watch, he decided to join to the Air Mobile elite force and the 5th Gemunu watch. He held some key appointments within the regiments. He then received the opportunity to be a course instructor of the Sri Lanka Military Academy. After being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he served as the Commanding Officer of the 11th Battalion of the Gemunu Watch from October 2007 until December 2008. He was attached to the 59 Division and was commanded by Major General Nandana Udawatta during the Sri Lankan Civil War. Thereafter, he was promoted to Colonel and served as Officiating Brigade Commander of the 651 Brigade on two occasions. First from August 2009 to February 2010, and second from October 2014 to January 2016.[5]

After being a young Brigade Commander, he was appointed as the Center Commandant of the Gemunu Watch.[6] After serving as the Centre Commandant for 3 years. He was appointed as a Brigade commander on two other occasions, first in the 511 Brigade and then in the 221 Brigade. Afterwards he was appointed as the new Defence Attaché of the Sri Lanka High Commission in the United Kingdom.

After returning from the UK, he was appointed to various positions, including the Commandant of the Ragama Ranaviru Sevana, the Commandant of the Ranaviru resource centre, and Director of Real Estate and Quartering.[7] After serving in the Directorates he was appointed as the General officer Commanding (GOC) of the 58 Division[8] and was promoted to the rank of Major General on the 18 of May 2020. [9][10][11]

After serving as the Divisional commander of the 58 Division he was appointed and currently serves as the Director General General Staff (DGGS) of the Sri Lankan army. He was the Parade Commander in the 73rd Independence Day (2021) of Sri Lanka.[12] On the 21 July 2021, Major General Priyanka Fernando assumed duties as the 12th Colonel of the Regiment of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment(MIR).[13]

Awards and decorations

Fernando is a decorated combat officer of the Sri Lankan army. He has received some of the highest awards of the Sri Lankan armed forces, including the Rana Wickrama Padakkama, the Uttama Seva Padakkama, the Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal, the Eastern Humanitarian operations Medal, the North and East Operations Medal, the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, the Sevabhimani Padakkama, the Sewa padakkama, the Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal, the Purna Bhumi padakkama, the 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, and the Desha Putra Sammanaya.[14]

He has received some of the medals twice or more.

Diplomatic Career

He was appointed as Counsellor (Defence) to the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom in 2017. In February 2018 he was recalled to Sri Lanka after drawing media attention for making throat slitting gestures towards LTTE protesters outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on 4 February 2018 (Sri Lanka's independence Day), for which he was fined £2400 by the Westminster Magistrates' Court, which ruled that Brigadier Priyanka Fernando "is not protected by diplomatic immunity".[15][16][17][18][19][20][21]

Following his recall, he had served as Commandant of the Ranaviru Sampath Kendraya (Veterans Resource Center) in Wattala and Director, Real Estate and Quartering at the Army Headquarters.[22] In March 2020, he was appointed General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division.[23] On 18 May 2020, Fernando was promoted to the rank of major general.[24]

In March 2020, the Westminster Magistrates’ Court ruling was overturned on appeal by Fernando to the High Court, which quashed his conviction and acquitted him, upholding his diplomatic immunity as per the Vienna Convention, which Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom are states parties too. The High Court judges ruled that the Chief Magistrate of the Westminster Magistrates’ Court was incorrect in her decision that Brigadier Fernando was not covered by residual immunity at the time.[25]

See also

References
  1. "Major General Priyanka Fernando, New DGGS Assumes Office | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  2. "Today is the 73rd Independence Day". news.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  3. "73rd Independence Day Spirits Grip on Self-Reliance of the Nation | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-13.
  4. "Unknown facts about Brig Fernando" (in Sinhala). hirunews.lk. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  5. "651 BRIGADE". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  6. "The Gemunu Watch". alt.army.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  7. "Brig Priyanka Fernando, New Director Real Estate & Quartering Assumes Office | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  8. "New 58 Div GOC Assumes & Former GOC Relinquishes | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  9. "HISTORIC PROMOTION OF 14,617 ARMY OTHER RANKS COINCIDES WITH NATIONAL WAR HEROES' DAY". www.news.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  10. "Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka President promotes over 4700 Army Officers & Other Ranks marking 12th anniversary of war victory". www.colombopage.com. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  11. "177 Army officers promoted". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  12. "73rd Independence Day Spirits Grip on Self-Reliance of the Nation". Sri Lanka Army. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  13. "Mechanized Infantry Regiment". alt.army.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  14. "Medals | Sri Lanka Army". www.army.lk. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  15. Brown, David (4 March 2019). "Sri Lankan envoy convicted over threats to protesters". Thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  16. Bowcott, Owen; Taylor, Diane (1 February 2019). "UK arrest warrant for Sri Lanka attache over throat-cut gestures revoked". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  17. "UK court finds Sri Lankan Brigadier Priyanka Fernando guilty". Colombogazette.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  18. "Brig. Priyanka Fernando Found Guilty On Three Offences Under Public Order Act: Arrest Warrant Issued". Colombotelegraph.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  19. "Brig. Priyanka Fernando to China". Dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  20. Sri Lanka envoy suspended over throat-slitting gesture. Catherine Philp & Phil Miller, The Times, 7 February 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019. (subscription required)
  21. "£2,400 fine for 'throat-slit' gesture : UK Court Finds Brig Priyanka Fernando Guilty". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  22. "Brig Priyanka Fernando, New Director Real Estate & Quartering Assumes Office". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  23. "New 58 Div GOC Assumes & Former GOC Relinquishes". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  24. "177 Army officers including Brig. Priyanka Fernando promoted". Adaderana. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
  25. "UK High Court rules in favor of Major Gen Priyanka Fernando". NewsFirst. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
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