Cyril Ranatunga

[1] Born and raised in the village of Bakmeedeniya, Kegalle, in a family of six children, Ranatunga attended St. Sylvester's College, Kandy; where he excelled at many sports, and captained the hockey and athletic teams.He joined the Ceylon Army in 1950 and received his officer training at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, where his company commander was Patrick Anthony Porteous.In 1962, he attended the Staff College, Camberley, where he became friends with Major Yakubu Gowon, later General and Head of the Federal Military Government of Nigeria.Following the clearing of insurgents from Kegalle, he was appointed Military Coordinating Officer of the Anuradhapura District to lead mop-up operations.In February 1982, he was appointed Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and Commander Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna.[1] On 1 August 1986, he was promoted to full general[2] and was retired from active service in 1988 once again, stepping down as GOC, Joint Operations Command.However, four months into his tenure, Premadasa's successor Wijetunga appointed him as Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.[citation needed] Leaving public life, he lived the remainder of his days at his ancestral home in Mawanella having become a gentleman farmer.[3] On his way to the British Army Armoured Center in Bovington on board P&O liner Orontes, he met Myrtle Sumanasekera, they were engaged on their arrival in London and married soon after.
GeneralKegalleColomboSri LankaSri Lanka ArmySri Lanka Armoured CorpsGeneral Officer Commanding, Joint Operations CommandChief of Staff of the Sri Lankan ArmyArmy Training Centre1971 InsurrectionSri Lankan Civil WarVishista Seva VibhushanayaSecretary of DefenceHigh Commissioner to AustraliaHigh Commissioner to the United KingdomofficerChief of StaffSri Lankan High Commissioner to Australiathe United KingdomSt. Sylvester's CollegeCeylon ArmyRoyal Military Academy SandhurstPatrick Anthony PorteousMalayaBritish Army Jungle Warfare SchoolSecond LieutenantCeylon Light InfantryCeylon Armoured CorpsAmparaGal Oya riotsTrincomaleeBritish Army Armoured Center, BovingtonLebanonLebanon crisisStaff College, CamberleyYakubu GowonHead of the Federal Military Government of NigeriaArmy Headquartersgeneral staff officercommanding officerLieutenant ColonelKegalle DistrictAnuradhapura DistrictAnuradhapura Army BaseRoyal College of Defence StudiesAnuradhapuraDiyatalawa GarrisonMilitary SecretaryPanagoda CantonmentBrigadierCommander Security Forces Headquarters – JaffnaGurunagarKatunayake International AirportLieutenant GeneralGeneral Officer CommandingTissa WeeratungaCadillac Gagearmored carsAlvis SaladinsFerret armoured carsPakistanType 56 assault riflesself loading riflesDvora-class fast patrol boatVadamarachchi OperationOperation PoomalaiIndo-Sri-Lankan accordIndo Lanka Peace AccordField marshalRanasinghe PremadasaSecretaryMinistry of DefenceGeneral Sir John Kotelawala Defence AcademyWijetungaSri Lankan High Commissioner to the United KingdomKumaratungaMawanellagentleman farmerBritish Army Armoured CenterBovingtonCeylon Armed Services Long Service MedalRepublic of Sri Lanka Armed Services MedalVadamarachchi Operation MedalUnited Nations Medal