Major Pradeep Rathnayake

Major Pradeep Rathnayake is Member of The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment. After completing studies at St Sebastian’s Boys Primary School, Kandana and Mahanama College Colombo 03, He joined Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet of Intake 28 General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University on 23 September 2010. Upon completion of basic military training at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyathalawa he was Commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 23 September 2012 and posted to the Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment, one of the premiere Infantry Regiment of Sri Lanka Army and subsequently posted to the 1^st Battalion The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.

During his Military Career, he has held various Command, Staff and Instructional appointments in his capacity.:

Command Appointments

• Platoon Commander – 1^st Battalion The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.
• Officer Commanding – Rifle Coy – 1^st Battalion The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.
• Officer Commanding – Support Coy – 22^nd Battalion The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.
• Officer Commanding – Rifle Coy – 1^st Battalion The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.

Staff Appointments

• Battalion Adjutant – 1^st Battalion The Vijayabahu Infantry Regiment.

Instructor Appointments

• Troop Commander – Kotelawala Defence University.
• Instructor – International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights.

In recognition of his service rendered to the Sri Lanka Army he has awarded with following medals:

• 75^th Independence Day Commemoration Medal.
• Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal.
• Sewabhimani Medal.
• Service Medal.
• Commander of the Army Commendation.

Major Pradeep Rathnayake has qualified following Local and Foreign Courses.

• Bachelor of Science in Logistics Management (Supply Chain Mgt) – General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
• Officer Cadet Course- Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa.
• Young Officers Course- CRTS/ATS/ITC.
• Battalion Support Weapon Course – Infantry Training Center – Minneriya.
• Counter Insurgency & Jungle Warfare Course – Army Training School – Maduruoya.
• Basic Air Mobile Course – Air Mobile Training School – Nikawewa.
• International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights Course   – Institute of Peace Support Operations Training – Kukulegaga.
• Disaster Response & Life Saving Course – Sri Lanka Army Centre for Disaster Response Training – Gampola.
• Officer’s Weapon Course – Pakistan

During his Military Career, Major Pradeep Rathnayake has attended for following Seminars, Conferences and Workshops:

• Annual Symposium 2011 (Challenges of Post Conflict Sri Lanka) of Kotelawala Defence University (18 and 19 August 2011).
• International Symposium 2012 (Ensuring National Security through Reconciliation & Sustainable Development) of Kotelawala Defence University (22 and 23 August 2012).
• Ex Comorant Strike – Joint Military Exercise.
• Capacity Building Workshop on Disaster Risk Management Conducted by Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration.
• Seminar on Training of Trainers Use of Military on Law Enforcement Conducted by International Committee of Red Cross.
• Ex Mitra Shakthi VIII – Joint Military Exercise.
• The Victory Dictation on Great Patriotic War conducted at Russian House, Colombo 07.
• Students Research Forum 2023 (Strategic Futures of an Emerging World Order) organized by Faculty of Defence and Strategic Studies at Kotelawala Defence University. (15 August 2023).
• International Research Conference 2023(Achieving Resilience through Digitalization, Sustainability and Sectoral Transformation) of Kotelawala Defence University. (07 and 08 September 2023).

Areas of interest are as follows, 

• International Relations & Military History.
• Development of Land warfare.
• Counter Insurgency & Counter Terrorism.
•  Instructor in International Humanitarian Law & Human Rights, Leadership & Methods of Instructions.