Name: Colonel USB Ratnayake RWP, RSP psc
Profession: Commissioned Officer – Sri Lanka Army
Appointment: Dean – Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies
Contact Details: 071-0219432
Colonel Udesha Rathnayake is from the pioneer elite regiment of the Sri Lanka Army, The Commando Regiment. He studies at Wickramabahu Central College, Gampola. He Joined Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet to General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA) on 21 October 1994. After completion of basic military training at KDA and Sri Lanka Military Academy (SLMA), he was commissioned and posted to the Commando Regiment. He served at various levels and capacities covering various Command, Staff and instructor appointments.
As a young Lieutenant and a Team Commander, he was awarded three gallantry medals with in the span of 7 months in 1999 – 2000 and have wounded three times in the battle field. Then he served in Long Range Patrol (LRP) of the Commando Regiment. He has also undergone three leading special force courses in the world; Sri Lankan Commando Course, US Special Forces Course and Pakistan Special Service Group Course. He also has served in UN missions as the Military Observer in UNMISS and UNAMID in Sudan. Further, he has held following command, staff and instructor appointments during his illustrious career.
Command Appointments
- Team Commander – 2 Commando Regiment Delta and Echo Groups
- Officer Command – 2 Commando Regiment Echo Group
- Officer Command – 3 Commando Regiment Zulu Group
- Operations and Training Officer Command – 3 Commando Regiment
- UNMO(UN Military Observer) – UNMISS, Sudan
- UNMO(UN Military Observer) Darfur – UNAMID, Sudan
- Second in Command – 3 Commando Regiment
- Commanding Officer – 4 Commando Regiment
Staff Appointments
- Adjutant – 2 Commando Regiment
- General Staff Officer 1 (A) – RHQ Commando Regiment
- General Staff Officer 1 (OPS) – RHQ Commando Regiment
- Secretary – Curriculum Development Board, NDC SL
- Secretary – National Defence College
- General Staff Officer 1 (OPS) – 51 Division, Jaffna
- Colonel Training (Foreign) of Directorate of Training – Army Headquarters
Instructor Appointments
- Directing Staff – Officers Study Centre, SLMA, Diyathalawa
- Course Commander – Long Range Patrol Course, CRTS
- Commandant – Commando Regiment Training School
In recognition of his valuable and unblemished service rendered to the Army/ Country, he has awarded with following medals:
- Ranashoora Padakkama
- Rana Weeara Padakkama
- Uttama Seva Padakkama
- Poornabhoomi Padakkama
- North and East Operational Medal
- Riviresa Campaign Medal
- North Humanitarian Operational Medal
- East Humanitarian Operational Medal
- Sri Lanka Army 50thAnniversary Medal
- 50thAnniversary of Independence Medal
- Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
- MINUSTAH Medal for the UN Mission
- Videsha Seva Medal
- BA(Defence Studies) Degree with Second Class Lower, Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy
- MSc (Disaster Analysis, Management and Mitigation with merit pass, University of Colombo
- Pass Staff Course(psc) from Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sri Lanka
- Officer Cadet Course, Intake XII in KDA, Ratmalana
- Regular Officer Cadet Course, Intake 44B in SLMA, Diyathalawa
- Flash Style Course 98-2, CRTS, Uva Kudaoya
- Commando Orientation Course, CRTS, Uva Kudaoya
- Commando Selection Course 44 C, CRTS, Uva Kudaoya
- Commando Advance Course25 A, CRTS, Uva Kudaoya
- Balance Style Course 00-2, CRTS, Uva Kudaoya
- Special Commando Course, Cherat, Pakistan
- Basic Parachute Course No 19, CRTS, Ganemulla
- Junior Staff Course 10, Officers Study Centre, Sri Lanka Military Academy
- Special Forces Detachment Officer Qualification Course 02-01, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, USA
- Maritime Operation Training Course, Special Boat Squadron Training School, Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee
- Field Training Course on Technical Training Center, Harris Corporation
- Course on Sri Lankan Military History, Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy
- Young Officers Course No 101, Mhow, India
- Junior Command Course No 3, Officers Study Centre, SLMA
- Counter Insergency and Jungle Warfare Course (O)-100, Vairengte, India
- Command and Staff Course No 1, Defence Services Command and Staff College Sri Lanka
- Mid Carrier Course No 42, Quetta, Pakistan
- 21st Residential Short Course on GIS and Applications, University of Peradeniya
- The Potential Observer and Staff Officers Course XII (POSOC), Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka
- High Altitude Free fall Parachuting Course, China
- CBRN Incident Response for National Security Forces
- Advance Course on CBRN Incident Response for Tri Service Officers
- Trainer Trainee Program, Sri Lankan Aviation College, Katunayake
- United Nations Logistics Officers Course 02 (UNLOC), Institute of Peace Support Operations Training Sri Lanka
He is no longer serving KDU