Lionel Balagalle

2022-12-09T07:32:01Z

123.231.86.185:

{{short description|Sri Lankan army officer}}
{{More footnotes|date=December 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| honorific_prefix = [[General]]
| name = Lionel P. Balagalle
| honorific_suffix = [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama|RWP]], [[Rana Sura Padakkama|RSP]], [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya|VSV]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama|USP]], [[Videsha Seva Padakkama|VSP]]
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| allegiance = [[Sri Lanka]]
| branch = {{army|Sri Lanka}}
| serviceyears = 1967-2005
| rank = [[File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-9.svg|10px]] [[General]]
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| unit = [[Sri Lanka Artillery]]
| commands = [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lankan Army]]
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[[General]] '''Lionel Piyananda Balagalle''' [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama|RWP]], [[Rana Sura Padakkama|RSP]], [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya|VSV]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama|USP]], [[Videsha Seva Padakkama|VSP]] was a senior [[Sri Lanka]]n army officer. He served as [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lanka Army]] and [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|Chief of the Defence Staff]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.presidentcbk.org/Photo_Gallery.php |title=PresidentCBK |access-date=14 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330064114/http://www.presidentcbk.org/Photo_Gallery.php |archive-date=30 March 2013 }}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Born in Colombo, both his parents were teachers. Having received his primary education in a rural school in [[Ratnapura]], he attended [[Ananda College]] for his secondary education, he excelled in sports winning college colours. He was a senior school prefect and a cadet.<ref name="army1">[http://www.army.lk/news/cds-army-chief-lt-gen-balagalle-bids-au-revoir CDS &; ARMY CHIEF LT. GEN BALAGALLE BIDS AU REVOIR]</ref>

==Military career==
===Early career===
Balagalle studied medicine before he joined the Ceylon Army as an Officer Cadet on 5 April 1965. Receiving his basic training at the [[Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa]], he was commissioned as a [[Second Lieutenant]] in the 4th Regiment, [[Ceylon Artillery]] on 5 April 1967. As an [[artillery|artillery officer]] he took part in counter insurgency operations in the [[1971 JVP Insurrection]] and later attended the [[Indian Army]] School of Artillery in [[Deolali]] from September 1971 to February 1972 for the Young Officers Course. He returned to Deolali from August 1977 to September 1978 for the Long Gunnery Staff Officers Course and qualified as an Instructor Gunnery (IG).<ref name="army1"/><ref>[https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2001/04/09/stories/100955m3.htm An officer and a gentleman]</ref>

===Military intelligence===
Having attended the Intelligence Staff Officers Course in [[Pune]] from August 1975 to October 1975, Balagalle served as a General Staff Officer (intelligence) and in the 1980s initiated the formal [[military intelligence]] operations while serving as the General Staff Officer (Grade 1) and thereafter the Principal Staff Officer of the [[Joint Operations Command (Sri Lanka)|Joint Operations Command]] with the rank of [[Major]]. Here he played a major role in planning the [[Vadamarachchi Operation]] and subduing the [[1987–1989 JVP insurrection]]. He attended the Intelligence Security Administration Course in the [[United Kingdom]] in September 1989. Balagalle became the first [[Directorate of Military Intelligence (Sri Lanka)|Director of Military Intelligence]] and [[Commanding Officer]] of the [[Military Intelligence Corps (Sri Lanka)|Military Intelligence Corps]], serving from 1990 to 1994 with the rank of [[Lieutenant Colonel]].<ref name="army1"/>

===Higher command===
He had served as [[Brigade 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 Defence College (India)|National Defence College]]. Promoted to [[Major General]], Balagalle served as [[General Officer Commanding]], Task Force 2 (for Elephant Pass, Pooneryn, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya areas), [[51 Division (Sri Lanka)|51 Division]]. He then served as [[Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna|Commander Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna]] and [[Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni|Commander Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni]]. In latter role, he conduced several offensive operations code named Rivibala (1998) and Ranagosha 1-4 (1999). Returning to [[Army Headquarters, Colombo|Army Headquarters]], he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and thereafter [[Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Chief of Staff of the Army]]. He was also the [[Colonel Commandant]] of Military Intelligence Corps (1997 - 1998).<ref name="army1"/>

===Commander of the Army and CDS===
On 24 August 2000, he succeeded [[General]] [[C. S. Weerasooriya]] as [[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lankan Army]] and was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant General]]. He was the first officer cadet to be trained locally at the Army Training Center to become the commander of the army. During his tenure the army began deploying troops for [[United Nations]] [[peace keeping]] operations and established the Institute of Peace Support Operations Training in Kukuleganga in conjunction with the US Army Pacific Command. On the Army day, 10 October 2003, he was received concurrent appointment as [[Chief of the Defence Staff (Sri Lanka)|Chief of the Defence Staff]] (CDS).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/07/03/Sup.asp?id%3Ds06 |title=Ananda Icons | Dailynews.lk - Sri Lanka |access-date=14 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090707022018/http://www.dailynews.lk/2009/07/03/Sup.asp?id=s06 |archive-date=7 July 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/896107.stm|title=BBC News | SOUTH ASIA | Sri Lanka 'needs more troops'}}</ref> 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 as well attended the sixth Chiefs of Defence Staff Conference in Hawaii and the fifth Chiefs of Defence Conference in Singapore.<ref name="army1"/> He was succeeded by Lieutenant General [[Shantha Kottegoda]] on 30 June as Commander of the Army. He continued as CDS until his retirement in 1 September 2005, with the rank of [[General]].<ref name=Past>{{cite web|title=Past Army Commanders |url=http://www.army.lk/pastcommanders.php |publisher=Sri Lanka Army |access-date=17 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120830175533/http://www.army.lk/pastcommanders.php |archive-date=30 August 2012 }}</ref>

==Family==
General Balagalle married to his wife Gnana and has three children. His son Lakmal Balagalle was also an artillery officer.<ref name="army1"/>

==Decorations ==
His military decorations include the [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]] and the [[Rana Sura Padakkama]] for gallantry; the distinguished service medals, [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]], [[Videsha Seva Padakkama]] and the [[Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal]] and [[Medal bar|Clasp]]; campaign medals [[Vadamarachchi Operation Medal]], [[Riviresa Campaign Services Medal]], [[Purna Bhumi Padakkama]], and the [[North and East Operations Medal]] with Clasp. He has also received the [[President's Inauguration Medal]], [[50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal]], [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Centenary Medal]].<ref name="army1"/>

<div class="center">
[[File:Rana wickrama medal.svg|110px]]
[[File:Rana sura medal.svg|110px]]

[[File:Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya medal bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Uttama Seva ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Purna Bhumi Padakkama ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:North and East Operations Medal ribbon bar.svg|110px]]

[[File:Vadamarachchi Operation Medal ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Riviresa Campaign Services Medal ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal.svg|110px]]

[[File:Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:President's Inauguration Medal.svg|110px]]
[[File:Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Centenary Medal ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
</div>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
*[https://www.outlookindia.com/photos/single/9639 Lionel Balagalle] at ''[[Outlook India]]''

{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Lieutenant General [[C. S. Weerasooriya]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Commander of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Commander of the Sri Lankan Army]]|years=2000-2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Lieutenant General [[Shantha Kottegoda]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=Major General Patrick Fernando}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Chief of Staff of the Army (Sri Lanka)|Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Army]]|years=1999-2000}}
{{s-aft|after=Major General [[Janaka Perera]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Commanders of the Sri Lankan Army}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Balagalle, Lionel}}
[[Category:1947 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Commanders of the Sri Lanka Army]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan full generals]]
[[Category:Sinhalese military personnel]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Artillery officers]]
[[Category:Military Intelligence Corps officers]]
[[Category:Alumni of Ananda College]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Military Academy graduates]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]

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Lionel Balagalle