Sarath Fonseka

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Sarath Fonseka
Sri Lanka
Lt. General G.S.C. Fonseka RWP, RSP, USP, rcds, psc, SR
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Service/branch	Sri Lanka Army
Rank	Lieutenant General
Unit	Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment
Commands held	Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Army
Battles/wars	Sri Lankan Civil War, Insurrection 1987-89
Awards	Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama, Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, Uttama Seva Padakkama, Desha Putra Sammanaya

Sri Lankan Conflict
Background
Sri Lanka • History of Sri Lanka
Origins of the Civil War
Origins of the Civil War Black July • Riots and pogroms Human rights • Allegations of state terror Tamil militant groups
LTTE
LTTE • Attacks • Expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna
Current major figures
Mahinda Rajapaksa Velupillai Prabhakaran Karuna Amman Gotabaya Rajapaksa Sarath Fonseka
Indian Involvement
Operation Poomalai Indo-Sri Lanka Accord Indian Peace Keeping Force Rajiv Gandhi • RAW
See also
Military of Sri Lanka TMVP • EPDP Notable assassinations • Child soldiers This box: view • talk • edit

Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, SLSR is a Sri Lankan Army officer who has served the throughout the Sri Lankan civil war and has been the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army since December 6, 2005. On April 25, 2006 he survived an assassination attempt when LTTE suicide bomber attacked his motorcade.^[1]

1 Early life and family
2 Military career
- 2.1 "Midnight Express"
- 2.2 Suicide bomb attack
3 Awards
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Early life and family

Lt. General Fonseka, a product of Dharmasoka College, Ambalangoda (1958-1965) and Ananda College, Colombo (1966-1969), is a keen sportsman who has excelled in swimming and water polo representing defense services and the country. Lieutenant General Fonseka, married to Mrs Anoma Fonseka has two daughters, Apsara and Aparna. He is also a US Green Card holder, having won the Green Card lottery.

[edit] Military career

He has held a large number of various staff appointments including the office of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Army, the post he relinquished to take reins as Commander of the Army.

His contributions as Deputy General Officer Commanding consist of conducting operation, 'Riviresa' to capture Jaffna from the Tamil Tigers in December 1995 In the same vein, troops commanded by Lt. Gen Fonseka as the offered stiff resistance to Tamil Tigers in 2000 following the fall of Elephant Pass.

Lt. General Fonseka, was also in operations, 'Balawegaya' and 'Jayasikuru,' that led to the capture of the Elephant Pass and capture Mankulam. It was none other than the 6th Battalion of his Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment that was under siege at Elephant Pass in 1991 and reinforcements that repulsed the LTTE attack. However, The Elephant Pass campaign is notable for its heavy losses to the LTTE. He was wounded in 1993 in the Yaldewee operation.

As a Colonel, Fonseka commanded the 23 Brigade, Polonnaruwa in 1993. Among other appointments, he held included Colonel, General Staff Army Headquarters; Centre Commandant, Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment; a Brigade Commander in Operation Balavegaya; Deputy Commandant - 5 Brigade Group, Mannar and Coordinating Officer for Gampaha.

[edit] "Midnight Express"

In 1993, as the Jaffna Fort was under siege for a long period, the then Colonel G.S.C. Fonseka led troops in the "Midnight Express" operation to rescue the besieged troops. Incidentally, the incumbent Secretary of Defence Lieutenant Colonel Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was with him. Several hundred soldiers were saved in the operation.

[edit] Suicide bomb attack

On 25 April 2006, Lt. General Fonseka survived an LTTE suicide bomb attack in which he was seriously injured and nine others were killed. The bomber, who may have been pregnant, had infiltrated the heavily-secured Army headquarters in Colombo and attacked the general's car when he was on his way to the officer's mess. The general was rushed first to the military hospital at the headquarters and then transferred to the Colombo General Hospital and later flown to Singapore for treatment, and resumed his duties in July.^[2]

[edit] Awards

His awards and decorations include the Gallantry Medals; Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), distinguished service medals; Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) and other notable medal campaign medals; Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, Poorna Bhoomi Padakkama, North & East Operations Medal, Desha Putra Sammanaya and several others.