Priyanka Fernando

Major General Andige Priyanka Indunil Fernando, RWP, USP is a senior Sri Lanka Army officer. He is the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 58 Division and had served as the Sri Lankan military attaché in London.

Priyanka Fernando
AllegianceSri Lanka
Service/branch Sri Lanka Army
Rank Major general
UnitGemunu Watch
Commands held58 Division,
651 Brigade,
11th Battalion, Gemunu Watch
Battles/wars
Sri Lankan Civil War

Early life and education

Educated at D. S. Senanayake College.[1]

Military career

Fernando joined the Sri Lanka Army as a cadet officer and received his basic training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Gemunu Watch.

As a lieutenant colonel he served as the commanding officer of the 11th Battalion, Gemunu Watch between October 2007 and December 2008 attached to the 59 Division during the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Thereafter, promoted to colonel he served as officiating brigade commander, 651 Brigade on two occasions from August 2009 to February 2010 and October 2014 to January 2016,[2] before appointed as the military attaché at the Sri Lankan High Commission in London from 2017 to February 2018 before being recalled to Sri Lanka after drawing media attention for making throat slitting gestures directed at Tamil protesters outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on 4 February 2018 (Sri Lanka's independence day) incurring a £2400 fine. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Following his recall, he had served as Commandant, Ranaviru Sampath Kendraya (Veterans Resource Center) in Wattala and Director, Real Estate and Quartering at the Army Headquarters.[10] In March 2020, he was appointed General Officer Commanding of the 58 Division.[11] On 18 May 2020, Fernando was promoted to the rank of major general.[12]

References
  1. "Unknown facts about Brig Fernando". hirunews.lk. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  2. "651 BRIGADE". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  3. Brown, David (4 March 2019). "Sri Lankan envoy convicted over threats to protesters". Thetimes.co.uk. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  4. Bowcott, Owen; Taylor, Diane (1 February 2019). "UK arrest warrant for Sri Lanka attache over throat-cut gestures revoked". Theguardian.com. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  5. "UK court finds Sri Lankan Brigadier Priyanka Fernando guilty". Colombogazette.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  6. "Brig. Priyanka Fernando Found Guilty On Three Offences Under Public Order Act: Arrest Warrant Issued". Colombotelegraph.com. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  7. "Brig. Priyanka Fernando to China". Dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 5 March 2019.
  8. Sri Lanka envoy suspended over throat-slitting gesture. Catherine Philp & Phil Miller, The Times, 7 February 2018. Retrieved 5 March 2019. (subscription required)
  9. "£2,400 fine for 'throat-slit' gesture : UK Court Finds Brig Priyanka Fernando Guilty". CeylonToday. Retrieved 2020-05-30.
  10. "Brig Priyanka Fernando, New Director Real Estate & Quartering Assumes Office". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  11. "New 58 Div GOC Assumes & Former GOC Relinquishes". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
  12. "177 Army officers including Brig. Priyanka Fernando promoted". Adaderana. Retrieved 19 May 2020.
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