New Army Deputy Chief of Staff takes over
Major General W. G. M. U. R. Perera USP took over as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the
Sri Lanka Army on May 7.
Major General Perera is the 21st Deputy Chief of Staff in the Sri Lanka Army after
this appointment was created in 1994.
Major General Perera is a product of Thurstan College, Colombo. He joined Thurstan College on in 1967 and left college in 1975 after completing his GCE (A/L). He was an all-rounder who excelled in both studies and sports. He was a regular prizewinner at the annual prize giving of the college and was a member of the panel of prefects in 1974. He was an athlete and a cadet. He joined the senior cadet platoon in 1970, became the Lance Sergeant in 1973, Company Quarter Master Sergeant (CQMS) and Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant (RQMS) of 3/ Sri Lanka Cadet Corp in 1974 and 1975 respectively.
He joined the Sri Lanka Army Regular Force as an Officer Cadet in May 1976. On successful completion of his military training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant to the Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Presently, he is holding the appointment of Colonel Commandant of the Corps of
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
During his military career, he has held many prominent appointments such as
Commanding Officer of the 5 battalion SLEME, Commandant of the SLEME Base Workshop
Katubedda, Colonel (AQ) 23 Division, Forward Maintenance Area Commander (East),
Commander Area Headquarters (Galle), Director of Movements Control – Army
Headquarters (AHQ), Director Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – AHQ and Quarter
Master General – AHQ. He held the appointment as the Colonel Commandant of the Sri
Lanka Army Medical Corps, prior to being appointed as the Colonel Commandant of his
Mother unit. He is also the President of the Army Buddhist Association.
Major General Perera has followed many overseas technical and management courses,
including Senior Defence Management Course and Officers’ Armament Instrument
Equipment Course in India. He is a Corporate Member of the Institute of Automotive
Engineers, Institute of Supplies and Materials Management and Institute of
Management (SL).
Major General Perera was also the President of the Sri Lanka Amateur Baseball and
Softball Association during the period 2005-2007.