Senior Directing Staff (SL Army)

Brigadier Sri Rajapaksha, RSP AUSWC psc
Senior Directing Staff (Army), National Defence College, Sri Lanka

Brigadier Sri Rajapaksha joined Sri Lanka Army on 22 October 1994 as an Officer Cadet of the 12th Intake of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU). Upon completion of his military and academic training at KDU and the Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), he was selected to serve in the Special Forces. Following the successful completion of Basic and Advanced Special Forces training, he was posted to the 2nd Special Forces Regiment, where he served as a Platoon Commander for nearly four years and actively participated in numerous operations during the height of the conflict in Sri Lanka.

Thereafter, Brigadier Rajapaksha joined the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, and held a wide range of command, staff, and instructional appointments throughout his career. During the conflict period in the Northern and Eastern theatres, he served as Platoon Commander, Company Commander, Operations and Training Officer, and Second-in-Command. His exemplary commitment to duty under demanding operational conditions earned him the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) on three occasions in recognition of his gallantry and battlefield performance.

Following the conclusion of the conflict, he continued to serve in key command appointments. He commanded the 9th Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment and subsequently the 243 Infantry Brigade, successfully leading troops at both regimental and brigade levels.

Brigadier Rajapaksha has also made significant contributions to military training and professional military education. He served as an Officer Instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Directing Staff at the Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC), and Chief Instructor at the Army Training School. He is currently serving as the Senior Directing Staff at the National Defence College, where he contributes to the strategic education and professional development of senior military officers and national security practitioners.

His staff appointments include serving as Adjutant of the Sri Lanka Contingent deployed under the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti, General Staff Officer Grade II at an Infantry Division Headquarters, General Staff Officer Grade I to the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, and Military Assistant to the Commander of the Army. These appointments provided him with extensive experience in operational planning, military administration, strategic coordination, and executive-level decision-making.

Brigadier Rajapaksha possesses an impressive record of professional military education. He graduated from the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sri Lanka, earning the prestigious psc qualification. He subsequently attended the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College, where he obtained a second psc qualification together with an Executive Diploma in Defence and Strategic Studies. In 2024, he successfully completed the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at the Australian War College and graduated as a Fellow of the institution.

Academically, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, a Master of Science Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies from the University of Kelaniya, and a Master of Business Administration in Logistics Management from KDU. In 2024, he earned a Master of Defence and Strategic Studies from Deakin University, Australia, specializing in International Policy. His research dissertation, titled Strategic Autonomy of a Small State in the Face of Great Power Rivalry, was awarded a Distinction, reflecting his strong interest in strategic affairs, international relations, and contemporary security studies.

Brigadier Sri Rajapaksha is married and blessed with three children.