Lionel P. Balagalle ලයනල් බලගල්ල | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1947-06-15)15 June 1947 Colombo,British Ceylon |
| Died | 26 October 2023(2023-10-26) (aged 76) Army Hospital, Narahenpita,Colombo,Sri Lanka |
| Allegiance |  Sri Lanka |
| Service |  Sri Lanka Army |
| Years of service | 1967–2005 |
| Rank |  General |
| Unit | Sri Lanka Artillery |
| Commands | Commander of the Sri Lankan Army |
| Awards |  Rana Wickrama Padakkama Rana Sura Padakkama Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya Uttama Seva Padakkama |
GeneralLionel Piyananda Balagalle,RWP, RSP, VSV, USP (15 June 1947 – 26 October 2023), was a seniorSri Lanka Armyofficer, who served as theCommander of the Sri Lanka Army and theChief of the Defence Staff. He is known for formalisingmilitary intelligence operations within the Sri Lanka Army, having founded theDirectorate of Military Intelligence and theMilitary Intelligence Corps.
Born in Colombo, both Balagalle's parents were teachers. Having received his primary education in a rural school inRatnapura, he attendedAnanda College for his secondary education. He excelled in sports winning college colours. He was a senior school prefect and a cadet.[1]
Balagalle studied medicine before he joined the Ceylon Army as an Officer Cadet on 5 April 1965. Receiving his basic training at theArmy Training Centre, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as asecond lieutenant in the 4th Regiment,Ceylon Artillery on 5 April 1967 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant February 1969. As atroop commander, he took part in counterinsurgency operations in the1971 JVP Insurrection and later attended theIndian Army School of Artillery inDeolali from September 1971 to February 1972 for the Artillery Young Officers Course (Field/CB), having been promoted to the rank of captain in October 1971.[1][2][3][4]
Captain Balagalle served as theadjutant of the 3rd(V) Battalion,Gemunu Watch, before serving as aGeneral Staff Officer (Grade 3) at theArmy Headquarters in operations and training. He then served as General Staff Officer (Grade 2) at HQ Jaffna; Staff Officer (Grade 2) Admin atSri Lanka Army Volunteer Force HQ and SO2 Logistics at Special Force HQ. He attended the Intelligence Staff Officers Course inPune from August 1975 to October 1975, then returned to Deolali from August 1977 to September 1978 for the Long Gunnery Staff Officers Course (Field) qualifying as an Instructor Gunnery (IG) and was promoted to the rank of Major in October 1978. He attended the Senior Officers Artillery Implementation Course in Pakistan.[1][3][4]
Having transferred to theJoint Operations Command (JOC) as the GSO 2 operations, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1985 and then served as GSO 1, where he was tasked with the military intelligence operations of the JOC, playing a major role in planning theVadamarachchi Operation. Promoted to Colonel in December 1988, he served as the Colonel General Staff of the JOC, directing intelligence gathering in subduing the1987–1989 JVP insurrection. Major GeneralSarath Munasinghe mention's in his bookA Soldier's Version, that he and Colonel Balagalle were present at theHQ Operation Combine during the interrogation of theJVP leaderRohana Wijeweera on 12 November 1989 following his capture and subsequent disappearance. He attended the Intelligence Security Course and the Intelligence Security Command Course in theUnited Kingdom in September 1989. Colonel Balagalle became the firstDirector of Military Intelligence andCommanding Officer of theMilitary Intelligence Corps, serving from 1990 to 1994, having been promoted to the rank of Brigadier in April 1991.[1][3][4] In 1993, Brigadier Balagalle was found at fault along with several other senior officers for their failure to prevent a major attack by the LTTE by amilitary court of inquiry following theBattle of Pooneryn.[5]
Balagalle had served asBrigade Commander of the 4 Brigade and the Artillery Brigade as well as Area Headquarters Wanni (1994). From January 1996 to December 1996, he attended the National Security and Strategic Studies Course at theNational Defence College and was promoted to the rank ofMajor General in April 1996. Balagalle served asGeneral Officer Commanding, Task Force 2 (for Elephant Pass, Pooneryn, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya areas),51 Division. He then served asCommander Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna andCommander Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni. In latter role, he conducted several offensive operations code named Rivibala (1998) and Ranagosha 1-4 (1999). Returning toArmy Headquarters, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and thereafterChief of Staff of the Army. He was also theColonel Commandant of the Military Intelligence Corps (1997–1998).[1][3][4]
On 24 August 2000, he succeededGeneralSrilal Weerasooriya asCommander of the Sri Lankan Army and was promoted to the rank oflieutenant general. He was the first officer cadet to be trained locally at the Army Training Centre to become the commander of the army. During his tenure, the army began deploying troops forUnited Nationspeace keeping operations and established the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training in Kukuleganga in conjunction with the US Army Pacific Command. On Army Day, 10 October 2003, he received concurrent appointment asChief of the Defence Staff (CDS).[6][7] He was the first serving Army Commander in the country to hold the post of CDS. During his tenure, he was the first foreign military chief to visit the line of control after the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India was signed and as well attended the sixth Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Hawaii and the fifth Chiefs of Defence Conference in Singapore.[1] He was succeeded by Lieutenant GeneralShantha Kottegoda on 30 June 2004 as Commander of the Army. He continued as CDS until his retirement on 1 September 2005, with the rank ofgeneral.[8][3][9][4]
General Balagalle married his wife Gnana and they had three children. His son Lakmal Balagalle was also an artillery officer.[1]
He died on 26 October 2023 at theArmy Hospital, Narahenpita due to a brief illness at the age of 75. His funeral was held on 28 October 2023 at theBorella General Cemetery withfull military honours.[10][3][4]
His military decorations included theRana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) and theRana Sura Padakkama (RSP) for gallantry; the distinguished service medals,Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV),Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP),Videsha Seva Padakkama and theSri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal andClasp; campaign medalsVadamarachchi Operation Medal,Riviresa Campaign Services Medal,Purna Bhumi Padakkama, and theNorth and East Operations Medal with Clasp. He also received thePresident's Inauguration Medal,50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal,Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal,Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Centenary Medal.[1][3]
His badges include: Sri Lanka Artillery Regimental Identification Badge, Instructor in Gunnery Badge and the Sri Lanka Artillery Training School Badge.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lieutenant GeneralSrilal Weerasooriya | Commander of the Sri Lankan Army 2000–2004 | Succeeded by Lieutenant GeneralShantha Kottegoda |
| Preceded by Major General Patrick Fernando | Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Army 1999–2000 | Succeeded by Major GeneralJanaka Perera |
