Major Madhawa Karunarathne is from the Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery. He received his primary education from Alapalawalawa Maha Vidyalaya and secondary education from Kegalu Maha Vidyalaya. He joined the Sri Lanka Army on 6 January 2009 under Intake 70 to the Sri Lanka Military Academy Diyatalawa (SLMA). After completion of the basic military training at SLMA, he was commissioned to the rank of Second Lieutenant on 25 June 2011 and posted to the Regiment of Sri Lanka Artillery and subsequently posted to 6th Field Regiment of Artillery.
During his tour of duty, he has held the following appointments:
Command Appointments.
- Troop Commander – 6th Field Regiment Artillery
- Battery Commander – 7th Light Regiment Artillery
- Headquarter Battery Commander – 4th Field Regiment Artillery
Staff Appointments.
- Aide de Camp (ADC)
- General Staff Officer 2 (Operations) – Security Forces Headquarters (East), Welikanda
- Staff Officer 2 (Welfare Fund) – Regiment Centre Sri Lanka Artillery, Panagoda
- General Staff Officer 2 (Army Wing) – Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda
Instructor Appointments.
- Squadron Commander – Kotelawala Defence University
In recognition of his valuable and unblemished service rendered to the Army and the Country, he has been awarded with the following medals:
- 75th Anniversary of Independence Medal
- Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
- Sewabhimani Medal
- Service Medal
- 75th Army Anniversary Commemoration Medal