Aruna Jayasekara | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1964-10-19)October 19, 1964 (age 60) Uva Province |
| Allegiance |  Sri Lanka |
| Service | Sri Lanka Army |
| Years of service | 1985–2019 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Gemunu Watch |
| Commands | Security Forces Headquarters – East, 22 Division, 14 Division, 68 Division |
| Battles / wars | 1987–1989 JVP insurrection, Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Awards | |
K. P. Aruna Jayasekara (born 19 October 1964) is a former seniorSri Lanka Army officer,socialist politician andmember of Parliament. He has served as theCommander, Security Forces Headquarters – East (2018–2019), Director of Training,Army Headquarters.
General Jayasekara is noted for commanding several deployments of Sri Lankan forces in UN peacekeeping missions and for commanding Task Force 08 (later 68 Division) in the2008–2009 Sri Lankan Army Northern offensive, including theBattle of Puthukkudiyirippu.
Born in theUva Province, Jayasekara studied at the Uva College Badulla and the Central College Badulla.[1]
He joined theSri Lanka Army on 21 March 1985 as an Officer Cadet in the Intake SSC 04, receiving his basic training at theSri Lanka Military Academy and was commissioned as aSecond Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion of theGemunu Watch on 4 October 1985. Serving as a Platoon commander andAdjutant, he was later transferred to the 4th Battalion, Gemunu Watch where he went on command as acommanding officer from October 1998 to September 2001. The 4th Battalion established in 1985 under the command of Lieutenant ColoneLakshman Algama, had taken part in counter-insurgency operations against theJVP insurrection and theLTTE during theSri Lankan Civil War.[2][1]
Jayasekara had completed the Indian Army's Young Officers’ Course; Junior Command & Staff Course at theCommand and Staff Training Institute in Bangladesh; the Staff Course at theDefence Services Staff College, the Senior Command Course at theArmy War College, Mhow; the Allied Offers War Course at theNational Defence University, Islamabad in 2008 and the National Defence Course at theNational Defence College, Bangladesh in 2014.[1]
Jayasekera went on to serve as a general staff officer, at the Directorate of Operations; Chief Instructor, Sri Lanka Military Academy; Colonel (general staff) HQ53 Division, Directing Staff,Defence Services Command and Staff College;Brigade Commander, 212 Brigade; Director, Operations, Army Headquarters; Commander, Task Force 08;General Officer Commanding, 68 Division; Commandant,Sri Lankan Army Officers Career Development Centre; Director Training, Army Headquarters; Director Army Sports, Director General Training, Army Headquarters; General Officer Commanding, 14 Division; General Officer Commanding,22 Division;Colonel of the Regiment - Gemunu Watch;Commander, Security Forces Headquarters – East.[1][3]
In overseas deployments, Jayasekera served as the Deputy Contingent Commander ofMINUSTA, lead the delegation Mali to reconnaissance on pre-deployment of troops underMINUSMA. Lectured on Jungle Warfare at the International Jungle Warfare Seminar held at Amazon Command in Manaus - Brazil. He took part in the India – Sri Lanka Joint Exercise ‘MITRA SHAKTI - 2015’ and TEMTEST in Jakartha - Indonesia.[1] He was a keen Tennis player. He retired from the army in November 2019 and is a member of the Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers.[1]
He formed and headed the Retired Armed Forces Collective of theNational People's Power (NPP) in 2023 and was nominated on the NPPNational List for the2024 Sri Lankan parliamentary election.[4] He was elected to parliament and appointed deputy minister of defence in the17th Parliament of Sri Lanka.[5]