Major General Channa Gunatilake has been appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA), the military spokesman said.
Gunatilake, who is the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, was the former Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force, Security Force Commander (Central), Military Secretary, Security Force Commander (Kilinochchi), GOC - 56th Infantry Division, GOC - Mannar.
A graduate of Defence Services Command and Staff College Bangladesh and National Defence College Pakistan, he holds a Master’s Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the National Defence University Pakistan.
He has been awarded a Diploma in Personnel Management by the National Institute of Business Management Sri Lanka. He has also participated in an impressive array of training programmes in Bangladesh, China, India, Pakistan, Switzerland and the USA.
Major General Goonetilleke has been decorated with the Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry and awarded the Vishishta Seva Vibushanaya for unblemished service and Uththamaseva Padakkma for distinguished service.
