(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara, a distinguished Senior Officer of the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, officially assumed duties as the 65th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army on 18 September 2024 at Army Headquarters.
Born on 09 February 1970, Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara completed his education at St. Benedict’s College, Colombo. He enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army on 20 January 1989 and followed the Regular Course No. 31 at both the Sri Lanka Military Academy and the Indian Military Academy. Upon completing his military training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and posted to the Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment on 05 October 1990.
Throughout his remarkable 36-year military career, Major General Dinesh Nanayakkara has served in various command, staff and instructional roles, showcasing his extensive experience and expertise. The Senior Officer has also served as a United Nations Military Observer in both Ethiopia and Sudan.
During the operations to liberate the country from the LTTE, he played an active role, for which he was awarded the prestigious Rana Shura Medal, recognising his exceptional bravery in combat. His outstanding service has been further acknowledged with numerous accolades, including the Vishishtha Seva Vibhushan, Uttama Seva Padakkama, and Desha Putra Padakkama, among many others.
He is a graduate of the Indonesian Defense University and has continually enhanced his strategic and operational knowledge through a variety of local and international courses. Before his appointment as the Chief of Staff, he served as the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
