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{{short description|Sri Lankan senior army officer}}
{{BLP sources|date=October 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{EngvarB |date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Kamal Gunaratne
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| death_place =
| image =
| caption =
| nickname =
| serviceyears = 1982-2016
| rank = [[File:Sri Lanka-army-OF-9.svg|20px]] [[General (Sri Lanka)|General]]
| branch = [[Sri Lanka Army]]
| commands = [[Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni]],<br /> [[53 Division (Sri Lanka)|53 Division]],
| unit = [[Gajaba Regiment]]
| battles = [[Sri Lankan Civil War]],<br />[[1987–89 JVP Insurrection]]
| awards = [[File:Weera wickrama vibhushanaya.svg|30px]] [[Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya]] <br />[[File:Rana wickrama medal.svg|30px]] [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]]<br /> [[File:Rana sura medal.svg|30px]] [[Rana Sura Padakkama]]<br /> [[File:Uttama Seva ribbon bar.svg|30px]] [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]]
| laterwork = [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)#Permanent Secretaries|Secretary]] to the [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Defence]]
}}
[[General (Sri Lanka)|General]] '''G. D. H. Kamal Gunaratne''', [[Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya|WWV]], [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama|RWP]], [[Rana Sura Padakkama|RSP]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama|USP]] is a retired [[Sri Lanka]]n military officer. He is the [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)#Permanent Secretaries|Secretary]] to the [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)|Ministry of Defence]] and the State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management. A retired [[Regular army|career officer]] of the [[Sri Lanka Army]], Gunaratne had served as the former [[Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni|Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni]], [[General Officer Commanding]] (GOC), [[53 Division (Sri Lanka)|53 Division]] and was a former [[Ambassador|Deputy Ambassador]] to [[Brazil]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.asianmirror.lk/english/index.php/news/10950-three-major-generals-to-serve-as-deputy-ambassadors | title=Three Major Generals to serve as Deputy Ambassadors | publisher=Asian Mirror | date=6 November 2012 | accessdate=10 March 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108123829/http://www.asianmirror.lk/english/index.php/news/10950-three-major-generals-to-serve-as-deputy-ambassadors# | archive-date=8 November 2012 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8387537.stm | title=Sri Lanka war refugees leaving military camps | publisher=BBC | date=1 December 2009 |accessdate=2013-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.channel4.com/news/who-are-sri-lanka-armys-53-division | title=Who are Sri Lanka Army's 53 Division? | publisher=Channel4 | date=8 December 2010 | accessdate=10 March 2022}}</ref> He was the GOC of the [[53 Division (Sri Lanka)|53 Division]] which killed the [[LTTE]] leader [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]] at Nandikadal, [[Mullaitivu]].

==Early life and education==
Born to a family of teachers, his father was a school principal. Educated at [[Dharmapala Vidyalaya]] and [[Ananda College]], he joined the army in 1981 as a cadet officer, undergoing basic officer training at the [[Sri Lanka Military Academy]].<ref name="MoD1">{{cite web |title=General G.D.H. Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) |url=https://www.defence.lk/Profile/secretary_defence |website=defence.lk |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=18 August 2021}}</ref>

==Military career==
=== Early career ===
After completing his basic training and a commando course, he was commissioned into the [[Rajarata Rifles]] as a [[second lieutenant]]. Following the disbandment of the Rajarata Rifles, he was one of the initial officers of the newly formed [[Gajaba Regiment]], attached to the 1st Battalion, Gajaba Regiment (1GR) under the command of Lieutenant Colonel [[Vijaya Wimalaratne]] and Major [[Gotabaya Rajapaksa]]. 1GR was deployed to the Jaffna peninsula between 1983 and 1984 and again 1985 with the escalation of the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]]. Serving as a platoon commander, company commander in the Gajaba Regiment, he was promoted to the ranks of [[Lieutenant]] and [[Captain]]. In 1987 he took part in the [[Vadamarachchi Operation]] and thereafter was deployed to Colombo for internal security duties. He attended the Infantry Young Officers’ Course at the School of Infantry and tactics, Pakistan in 1988 and the Junior Command Course at the College of Combat (now the [[Army War College, Mhow]]) in 1990. In 1990, he was the officer commanding the Mankulam Army Camp when it came under intense LTTE attack and under orders from the Wanni Headquarters made a successful withdrawal from the besieged camp. In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of [[Major]] and was appointed Second in Command of the 6th Battalion, GR. He was the officer commanding the Silawathura Army Camp when it came under siege by the LTTE, holding off the LTTE attack for several days until 6GR was relieved by reinforcements. During the siege he was wounded. Following deployment to Weli Oya he was once again seriously wounded. After returning to operational duties, he was transferred to Army Headquarters as a [[Staff Officer|Grade II Staff Officer]] in the Directorate of Logistics.<ref name="MoD1"/>

=== Field command ===
In 1994, having been promoted to [[Lieutenant Colonel]] he took command of the 6GR, taking part in the [[Operation Riviresa]] until 1997. Thereafter, he served as Commandant at [[Infantry Training Centre (Sri Lanka Army)|Infantry Training Centre]], [[Staff Officer|Grade I Staff Officer]] at [[Office of the Chief of Defence Staff|Joint Services Operational Headquarters]] coordinating the [[Operation Jayasikurui]]. In 1999, he attended the Senior Command Course at the College of Combat (now the [[Army War College, Mhow]]), where he gained a [[MPhil]] at the [[University of Madras]] and thereafter attended the Command and Staff Course at the [[Pakistan Command and Staff College|Command and Staff College, Quetta]], gaining his [[Psc (British Army)|psc]] qualification and Masters in Art and Science of Warfare from the [[University of Balochistan]]. As a [[colonel]] he was Bridged Commander of the Air Mobile Brigade at the on set of the [[Eelam War IV]] and was promoted to the rank of [[Brigadier]], he went on to take command of the [[55 Division (Sri Lanka)|55 Division]] and [[53 Division (Sri Lanka)|53 Division]] and was promoted to the rank of [[Major General (Sri Lanka)|Major General]]. 53 Division took part in many major battles leading to the final battle at Nandikadal, leading to the death of LTTE Leader [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]].<ref name="MoD1"/>

==== Accused of war crimes====
Some [[Non-governmental organization|NGO]] accused [[53 Division (Sri Lanka)|53 Division]] under Kamal Gunaratne for executions of [[LTTE]] cadres, during the heat of the war near Nandikadal in May 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sri Lanka: Army Unit Linked to Executions |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2010/12/08/sri-lanka-army-unit-linked-executions |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |accessdate=2 September 2018 |location=New York, U.S.A. |date=8 December 2022}}</ref>

=== Higher command ===
Following the war Gunaratne Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College, India (2011) [[National Defence College (India)|National Defence College, New Delhi]], gaining his ''ndc'' qualification. He served as [[Adjutant General]], [[Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni]], Deputy Ambassador to Brazil and [[Master-General of the Ordnance (Sri Lanka)|Master General Ordnance]] at the [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters]] from 16 February 2015 to 4 September 2016 before his retirement in 2016.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ft.lk/article/391545/SL-Army-announces-several-key-appointments--relinquishments | title=SL Army announces several key appointments | publisher=Financial Times}}</ref> He was also the Colonel of the Regiment of the [[Mechanized Infantry Regiment]] and the Gajaba Regiment.<ref>[http://www.army.lk/news/major-general-kamal-gunaratne-honoured-mir-military-parade Major General Kamal Gunaratne Honoured in MIR Military Parade]</ref>

== Political career ==
He authored an [[autobiography]] named [[Road to Nandikadal]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vijithayapa.com/product/view/30600 | title=Road to Nandikadal | publisher=Vijitha yapa}}</ref> on the war against [[LTTE]].,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242 |title=Council on Foreign Relations |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100526145855/http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242/ |archivedate=26 May 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3623 |title=MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819102855/http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3623 |archivedate=19 August 2014 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2022}}</ref> which was the best selling book of the 2016 [[Colombo International Book Fair]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Road To Nandikadal 'Could Be Sri Lanka's Record Best Seller'|url=http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/19305-road-to-nandikadal-could-be-sri-lanka-s-record-best-seller|accessdate=4 August 2017|archive-date=4 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170804214137/http://www.asianmirror.lk/news/item/19305-road-to-nandikadal-could-be-sri-lanka-s-record-best-seller|url-status=dead}}</ref> Post retirement, Gunaratne became an active supporter of former [[Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka)#Secretaries|Defence Secretary]] [[Lieutenant Colonel]] [[Gotabhaya Rajapaksa]] in his presidential campaign during the [[2019 Sri Lankan presidential election|2019 Presidential election]].<ref>[https://srilankamirror.com/news/9436-gotabhaya-is-the-leader-needed-by-the-country-kamal-gunaratne Gotabhaya is the leader needed by the country – Kamal Gunaratne]</ref> Following the election President Rajapaksa appointed Major General Gunaratne as Defense Secretary succeeding [[General]] [[Shantha Kottegoda]] on 19 November 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kamal Gunaratne appointed new Defence Secretary |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news_intensedebate.php?nid=59146 |accessdate=19 November 2019 |publisher=Adaderana}}</ref> In December 2020, he was elevated to the rank of [[General (Sri Lanka)|General]] by President Rajapaksa.<ref>{{cite news |title=Defense Secretary Kamal Gunaratne elevated to rank of General |url=http://www.adaderana.lk/news/70308/defense-secretary-kamal-gunaratne-elevated-to-rank-of-general |access-date=28 December 2020 |publisher=Adaderana}}</ref>

==Awards and decorations==
General Gunaratne has received some of the highest awards in the Sri Lankan armed forces, which includes the [[Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya]], [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]] and the [[Rana Sura Padakkama]].<ref name="MoD1"/> he was awarded the Command and Staff College, Quetta Centenary Medal by the Government of Pakistan in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka, Pakistan defense relations are getting stronger |url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_20B/Jul22_1595428626CH.php |access-date=18 August 2021 |publisher=colombopage.com}}</ref>

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

[[File:Uttama Seva ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Desha Putra Sammanaya ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal ribbon bar.svg|110px]]
[[File:Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal 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: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]]
{{ribbon devices|ribbon=Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Medal.svg|width=110}}
</div>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|-
|[[Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya]] || [[Rana Wickrama Padakkama]] (with clasp) || [[Rana Sura Padakkama]]
|-
|[[Uttama Seva Padakkama]] || [[Desha Putra Sammanaya]] || [[Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal]] (with clasp) || [[Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal]] (with clasp)
|-
|[[Purna Bhumi Padakkama]] || [[North and East Operations Medal]] (with clasp) || [[Vadamarachchi Operation Medal]] || [[Riviresa Campaign Services Medal]]
|-
|[[50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal]] || [[Sri Lanka Army 50th Anniversary Medal]] || [[Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal]] (with clasp) || Command and Staff College Quetta Centenary Medal
|}

==Publications==
* [[Road to Nandikadal]] - Sinhala and English translation.
* Kadol Aththu
* Uthara Devi
* Gotabhaya - Sinhala and English translation.
* Pathalayoo

== See also ==
* [[List of Sri Lankan non-career Permanent Secretaries]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=162171 Major General’s book becomes war crime dossier: FM] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705172009/http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=162171 |date=5 July 2017 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunaratne, Kamal}}
[[Category:Sri Lankan full generals]]
[[Category:Sinhalese military personnel]]
[[Category:Permanent secretaries of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:Alumni of Ananda College]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Military Academy graduates]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Quetta]]
[[Category:National Defence College, India alumni]]
[[Category:University of Madras alumni]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan diplomats]]
[[Category:Gajaba Regiment officers]]
[[Category:Army War College, Mhow alumni]]

Kamal Gunaratne - Revision history

Bot at 10:31, 23 December 2022