The Ministry of Defence has announced the appointments of Major General Lasantha Rodrigo as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. Major General Rodrigo succeeds Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, who has retired from active service, marking his tenure as the 25th Commander of the Army. With a distinguished career, he previously held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff and served as the Commandant of the Defence Services Command and Staff College.
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Banagoda, who took over as Navy Commander, was the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy since August 2024. He brings extensive experience from commanding various Fast Attack Craft, ships, and establishments within the Navy. His notable past roles include Director Naval Training and Commander of several naval areas, including the Eastern and Northern Naval Areas. In recognition of his exceptional service, Rear Admiral Banagoda has been awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry and the Uththama Sewa Padakkama (USP) for his exemplary character and dedication to duty.
