General L. P. Balagalle passes away

General L. P. Balagalle (Rtd) RWP RSP VSV USP ndc IG, the 16th Commander of the Army passed away yesterday (26) after a brief illness at the Colombo Army Hospital, Narahenpita. General Balagalle (Rtd) of the Sri Lanka Artillery was the 16th Commander of the Army between 2000 and 2004 while concurrently holding the office of Chief of Defence Staff between 2003 and 2004. His funeral with full military honours will take place tomorrow (28) at the General Cemetery Borella crematorium at 4.30 pm. His remains are now lying at No. 21/12 Samanala Road, Kotelawala, Kaduwela.

He enlisted in the Army as an Officer Cadet in 1965 and was commissioned in 1967 as a second Lieutenant and posted to the 4th Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery.

He has been honoured and awarded laurels, including two Gallantry Awards, Rana Wickrema Padakkama (RWP) and Rana Soora Padakkama (RSP), three Distinguished service medals, Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uththama Seva Padakkama (USP) and Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal and Clasp, President’s Inauguration Medal, 50th Independence Commemoration Medal and Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force Centenary Medal.

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