Cecil Waidyaratne
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2020) |
Cecil Waidyaratne | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 16, 1938 Ceylon |
| Died | December 18, 2001 (aged 63) India |
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Service | Sri Lanka Army |
| Years of service | 1961–94 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Sri Lanka Armoured Corps |
| Commands | Commander of the Sri Lankan Army Chief of Staff of the Army Operation Combine 1 Division |
| Battles / wars | 1971 JVP insurrection 1987–89 JVP Insurrection Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Awards | Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya Uttama Seva Padakkama |
| Other work | Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand |
General L. D. E. Cecil Waidyaratne, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, SLAC (16 May 1938 – 18 December 2001) was a Sri Lankan general. He was 12th Commander of the Sri Lankan Army and a former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand.[1][2]
Education
Educated at St. Benedict's College, Colombo, where he played for the college cricket team.[3]
Military career
Early career
Waidyaratne joined the Ceylon Army on 26 June 1959, as a cadet officer and received his officer training at Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. On 28 July 1961, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment,Ceylon Armoured Corps. He served with the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment during the 1971 JVP insurrection and in 1973, he attended the Defence Services Staff College in Wellington.[3]
Field command
On January 1, 1980, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and took over command of the Sri Lanka Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when fraud and robbery was reported in army workshops. In March 1981, he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment and tasked with undertaking disciplinary action following a clash between Sinha Regiment troops and police officers of the Fort Police Station on 20 January that year. He was thereafter appointed commanding officer of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, Sri Lanka Armoured Corps from July 1982 to June 1983. In May 1983, he was then sent to take control of what the army command thought of a possible a mutiny in the Rajarata Rifles. Taking command of the Rajarata Rifles, Colonel Waidyaratne had it disbanded and merged its remaining officers and men with that of Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment in October 1983 to form the Gajaba Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Vijaya Wimalaratne.[3]
Higher command
In 1985, he became the Commander Northern Area and thereafter Commander Southern Area before becoming the General Officer Commanding, 1 Division. In 1988, he attended the National Defence College, India. In 1989, he was promoted to the rank of major general and appointed Chief of Staff of the Army. In August 1989, he was appointed Commander of Operation Combine in 1989 and was responsible for the security of Colombo Metropolitan area. He led the Operation Combine which ended the second JVP insurrection. [2][3]
Commander of the Sri Lankan Army
On 16 November 1991, he was promoted to lieutenant general and was appointed as Commander of the Sri Lankan Army. He held the post until 31 December 1993, when he resigned following the Battle of Pooneryn. He was succeeded by G. H. De Silva. He was promoted to General on 1 January 1994 and retired from the army.
Later life
Following his retirement he was appointed Sri Lankan Ambassador to Thailand and held the post till December 1994. He died on 18 December 2001, while undergoing medical treatment in India.[2][3]
Family
He married Thileka Jayewardene, daughter of Major T. F. Jayewardene.[2]
References
- ^ "Commandants". ceylondatabase.net. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d Proud soldier who proved himself a noble son of Lanka
- ^ a b c d e de Zoysa, Major Mahesh. "Appreciation General Cecil Waidyaratne". Island. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
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