GENERAL SHAVENDRA SILVA PAYS LAST RESPECTS TO FORMER CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF

The distinguished military leader General Lionel Balagalle (Retd) RWP RSP VSV USP ndc IG, the former Chief of Defence Staff and the 16th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, passed away yesterday (26 Oct) at the age of 75 while receiving treatment at the Army Hospital in Colombo.

General Lionel Balagalle enlisted in the Army as an Officer Cadet in 1965 and was commissioned in 1967 as a second Lieutenant and posted to the 4th Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery. Having shouldered numerous higher appointments in different capacities, this well decorated senior officer served as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army from August 2000 to June 2004 whilst concurrently holding the office as the Chief of Defence Staff from October 2003 to June 2004.

The present Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil along with his spouse Mrs Sujeewa Nelson paid their last respects to the late General Balagalle yesterday evening at his residence in Kotelawala, Kaduwela and extended condolences to the grieving family members.

The funeral with full military honours is scheduled to be held at 1630 hrs on 28 Oct 2023 (Saturday) at General Cemetery, Borella.