Y. Balaretnarajah: Difference between revisions
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|rank =[[Major-general (Sri Lanka)|Major General]] |
|rank =[[Major-general (Sri Lanka)|Major General]] |
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|servicenumber = |
|servicenumber = |
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|unit = |
|unit =[[Sri Lanka Armoured Corps|Ceylon Armoured Corps]] |
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|commands =[[Chief of Staff]], Sri Lanka Army<br>Commandant, [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force |
|commands =[[Chief of Staff]], Sri Lanka Army<br>Commandant, [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force]]<br>1 Division |
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|battles =[[1971 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|1971 Insurrection]]<br>[[Sri Lankan Civil War]]<br/>[[1987-89 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|Insurrection 1987-89]] |
|battles =[[1971 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|1971 Insurrection]]<br>[[Sri Lankan Civil War]]<br/>[[1987-89 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|Insurrection 1987-89]] |
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|battles_label = |
|battles_label = |
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|awards =[[File:Vishista_Seva_Vibhushanaya_bar.GIF|20px]] [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]]<br> [[File:Uttama Seva Padakkama Bar.gif|20px]] [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]]<br> [[File:3by2white.svg|20px]] [[Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal]]<br> [[File:Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal.png|20px]] [[Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal]]<br> [[File:Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service.jpg|20px]] [[Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal]]<br> [[File:3by2white.svg|20px]] [[President's Inauguration Medal]]<br> [[File:3by2white.svg|20px]] [[Purna Bhumi Padakkama]] |
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|awards =[[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]]<br>[[Uttama Seva Padakkama]] |
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|relations = |
|relations = |
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|laterwork = |
|laterwork = |
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|signature = |
|signature = |
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[[Major General]] '''Y. Balaretnarajah''', [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya|VSV]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama|USP]], [[National Defence College, India|ndc]] |
[[Major General]] '''Y. Balaretnarajah''', [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya|VSV]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama|USP]], [[National Defence College, India|ndc]] is a retired senior [[Sri Lanka Army]] officer and former [[Chief of Staff]] of the [[Sri Lanka Army]]. He has also been [[Commandant]] of the [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force]], [[General Officer Commanding|GOC]]- 1 Division, [[Brigade Commander]] of the Armoured-, 21- and 24 Brigades and Commander, [[Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna|Jaffna Security Forces]]. |
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== Education == |
== Education == |
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Born July 22, 1939 he was educated at |
Born July 22, 1939 he was educated at [[St. John's College, Jaffna]] and at the [[Jaffna College]]. Joining the [[Ceylon Army]] in November 1959, he received his basic officer training at the [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Sandhurst]]. He completed the Armour Young Officers Course of the [[British Army]] at the Royal Armoured Corps Training Centre, and Advance Armour Officers Course of the [[Indian Army]]. He is also a graduate of [[National Defence College, India]]. |
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== Military career == |
== Military career == |
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After completion of basic officer training Balaretnarajah commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Ceylon Armoured Corps]] on December 21, 1961. He served as a troop leader of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, officer instructor at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa and a [[staff officer]] at the [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters]] and Northern Command Headquarters during the [[1971 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|1971 Insurrection]] before returning to the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment as a squadron commander with the rank of [[Captain (OF-2)|captain]]. Promoted to the rank of [[major]], he was |
After completion of basic officer training Balaretnarajah was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Ceylon Armoured Corps]] on December 21, 1961. He served as a troop leader of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, officer instructor at the [[Sri Lanka Military Academy|Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa]] and a [[staff officer]] at the [[Army Headquarters (Sri Lanka)|Army Headquarters]] and Northern Command Headquarters during the [[1971 JVP Insurrection (Sri Lanka)|1971 Insurrection]] before returning to the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment as a squadron commander with the rank of [[Captain (OF-2)|captain]]. Promoted to the rank of [[major]], he was appointed deputy commandant at [[Sri Lanka Military Academy|Diyatalawa]] before becoming a staff officer in the Logistics Command with the rank of [[lieutenant colonel]]. |
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As a colonel he headed the Logistics Command as Director Logistics and was promoted to the rank of brigadier in 1986. With the outset of the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]] and the [[insurrection |
As a colonel he headed the Logistics Command as Director Logistics and was promoted to the rank of brigadier in 1986. With the outset of the [[Sri Lankan Civil War]] and the [[1987–89 JVP insurrection|second JVP insurrection]] he raised and commanded the 24 Brigade based out of Puttlam, and then appointed brigade commander of the 21 brigade based out of Jaffna, before becoming the commander, Security Forces Headquarters- [[Jaffna]] (SFHQ-J). During this period he also raised and commanded the armoured brigade. |
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In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of [[major general]] and was appointed |
In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of [[major general]] and was appointed the general officer commanding ([[General Officer Commanding|GOC]])- 1 Division. He was then appointed commandant, [[Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force]] before becoming the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, also serving as the [[regimental commander]] of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps. |
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Balaretnarajah retired from the army with the rank of major general in October 1992. He was the president of the Armour Veteran's Association and Vice Patron of the St Johns College Jaffna Old Boys Association South Sri Lanka. |
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Major General Balaretnarajah has been awarded the service medals [[Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya]], [[Uttama Seva Padakkama]], [[Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal]], [[Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal]], [[Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal]], [[President's Inauguration Medal]], and the [[Purna Bhumi Padakkama]]. |
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==Personal life== |
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Balaretnarajah was married to Sarojini (née Somasundaram), and had three children- Anusha, Arjuna and Brahman.<ref>{{cite web|title=BALARETNARAJAH SAROJINI|url=http://www.srilankanobituaries.com/obituaries/balaretnarajah-sarojini/|website=Srilankanobituaries.com|publisher=Sri Lankan Obituaries|accessdate=29 August 2017}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 14:19, 29 August 2017
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Y. Balaretnarajah | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 22, 1939 |
| Allegiance |  Sri Lanka |
| Service |  Sri Lanka Army |
| Years of service | 1959 – 1992 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Ceylon Armoured Corps |
| Commands | Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army Commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force 1 Division |
| Battles / wars | 1971 Insurrection Sri Lankan Civil War Insurrection 1987-89 |
| Awards |  Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya Uttama Seva Padakkama Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal President's Inauguration Medal Purna Bhumi Padakkama |
Major General Y. Balaretnarajah, VSV, USP, ndc is a retired senior Sri Lanka Army officer and former Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He has also been Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, GOC- 1 Division, Brigade Commander of the Armoured-, 21- and 24 Brigades and Commander, Jaffna Security Forces.
Education
Born July 22, 1939 he was educated at St. John's College, Jaffna and at the Jaffna College. Joining the Ceylon Army in November 1959, he received his basic officer training at the Sandhurst. He completed the Armour Young Officers Course of the British Army at the Royal Armoured Corps Training Centre, and Advance Armour Officers Course of the Indian Army. He is also a graduate of National Defence College, India.
Military career
After completion of basic officer training Balaretnarajah was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ceylon Armoured Corps on December 21, 1961. He served as a troop leader of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, officer instructor at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa and a staff officer at the Army Headquarters and Northern Command Headquarters during the 1971 Insurrection before returning to the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment as a squadron commander with the rank of captain. Promoted to the rank of major, he was appointed deputy commandant at Diyatalawa before becoming a staff officer in the Logistics Command with the rank of lieutenant colonel.
As a colonel he headed the Logistics Command as Director Logistics and was promoted to the rank of brigadier in 1986. With the outset of the Sri Lankan Civil War and the second JVP insurrection he raised and commanded the 24 Brigade based out of Puttlam, and then appointed brigade commander of the 21 brigade based out of Jaffna, before becoming the commander, Security Forces Headquarters- Jaffna (SFHQ-J). During this period he also raised and commanded the armoured brigade.
In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of major general and was appointed the general officer commanding (GOC)- 1 Division. He was then appointed commandant, Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force before becoming the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, also serving as the regimental commander of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps.
Balaretnarajah retired from the army with the rank of major general in October 1992. He was the president of the Armour Veteran's Association and Vice Patron of the St Johns College Jaffna Old Boys Association South Sri Lanka.
Personal life
Balaretnarajah was married to Sarojini (née Somasundaram), and had three children- Anusha, Arjuna and Brahman.[1]
References
- ^ "BALARETNARAJAH SAROJINI". Srilankanobituaries.com. Sri Lankan Obituaries. Retrieved 29 August 2017.