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Sepala Attygalle
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Sepala Attygalle
General Deshamanya Don Sepala Attygalle, LVO (14 October 1921 – 15 January 2001) was a Sri Lankan army officer, civil servant and diplomat. The longest serving Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1967–1977), he went on to serve as the Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
He is most notable for successfully crushing the 1971 Insurrection in a matter of months and becoming the first Sri Lankan army officer to be promoted to the rank of full general. He is known as the "Father of the Armoured Corps" and was The Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation in 1953.
Attygalle was educated at the Royal College, Colombo, where he became the head prefect, won colours in both athletics and rugby; and was the Senior Sergeant of the Cadet Contingent of Royal College. Upon completing his schooling, he entered the University College, Colombo.
With the outbreak of World War II in 1940, Attygalle left his studies at the university college to join the Ceylon Defense Force with its wartime expansion and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ceylon Light Infantry on 15 November 1940. He underwent basic officer training at Diyatalawa, where he took the sword of honour at the army passing out parade in 1941 and thereafter underwent advanced training in India. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain in 1943. He was demobilized 9 March 1946, and had been the Defence Services 100-metre Champion until 1944.
Following the end of the war, he joined the government service as the Assistant Controller of Textiles and thereafter served as the Assistant Controller of Exports and Imports.
With the formation of the new Ceylon Army on 10 October 1949 following the passing of the Army Act; he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 1 Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry as a regular officer on 22 October 1949, promoted to the rank of captain on the same day, he was then assigned as the General Staff Officer - Grade 3 (GSO3) at the Army Headquarters, Ceylon. On 27 July 1950 he was appointed an Extra Aide-de-camp (ADC) to Lord Soulbury, the Governor General of Ceylon, succeeding Major Bevis Bawa. He was promoted to rank of major on 1 January 1952 and was appointed GSO2, Army Headquarters in February.
From May to July 1952, he attended the Company Commanders' Course at the School of Infantry, Warminster and the Land/Air Warfare Course at the School of Land/Air Warfare from October to November 1952. Thereafter he was attached to the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in Germany; serving with the NATO Forces in Europe. On his return he resumed his post as GSO2, Army Headquarters.
In January 1953, he relinquished his staff appointment at the army headquarters and left for the United Kingdom to attend the Staff College, Camberley. On 2 June 1953, he was appointed Equerry to HM Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation. On completing the staff college course, he was seconded to the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. During this time he served as a military liaison officer (military attaché) to the High Commissioner for Ceylon in the United Kingdom. On his return he took part in the formation of the "D" Company, 1st Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry of which was appointed officer commanding.
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Sepala Attygalle
General Deshamanya Don Sepala Attygalle, LVO (14 October 1921 – 15 January 2001) was a Sri Lankan army officer, civil servant and diplomat. The longest serving Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1967–1977), he went on to serve as the Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.
He is most notable for successfully crushing the 1971 Insurrection in a matter of months and becoming the first Sri Lankan army officer to be promoted to the rank of full general. He is known as the "Father of the Armoured Corps" and was The Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation in 1953.
Attygalle was educated at the Royal College, Colombo, where he became the head prefect, won colours in both athletics and rugby; and was the Senior Sergeant of the Cadet Contingent of Royal College. Upon completing his schooling, he entered the University College, Colombo.
With the outbreak of World War II in 1940, Attygalle left his studies at the university college to join the Ceylon Defense Force with its wartime expansion and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ceylon Light Infantry on 15 November 1940. He underwent basic officer training at Diyatalawa, where he took the sword of honour at the army passing out parade in 1941 and thereafter underwent advanced training in India. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain in 1943. He was demobilized 9 March 1946, and had been the Defence Services 100-metre Champion until 1944.
Following the end of the war, he joined the government service as the Assistant Controller of Textiles and thereafter served as the Assistant Controller of Exports and Imports.
With the formation of the new Ceylon Army on 10 October 1949 following the passing of the Army Act; he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the 1 Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry as a regular officer on 22 October 1949, promoted to the rank of captain on the same day, he was then assigned as the General Staff Officer - Grade 3 (GSO3) at the Army Headquarters, Ceylon. On 27 July 1950 he was appointed an Extra Aide-de-camp (ADC) to Lord Soulbury, the Governor General of Ceylon, succeeding Major Bevis Bawa. He was promoted to rank of major on 1 January 1952 and was appointed GSO2, Army Headquarters in February.
From May to July 1952, he attended the Company Commanders' Course at the School of Infantry, Warminster and the Land/Air Warfare Course at the School of Land/Air Warfare from October to November 1952. Thereafter he was attached to the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in Germany; serving with the NATO Forces in Europe. On his return he resumed his post as GSO2, Army Headquarters.
In January 1953, he relinquished his staff appointment at the army headquarters and left for the United Kingdom to attend the Staff College, Camberley. On 2 June 1953, he was appointed Equerry to HM Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation. On completing the staff college course, he was seconded to the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. During this time he served as a military liaison officer (military attaché) to the High Commissioner for Ceylon in the United Kingdom. On his return he took part in the formation of the "D" Company, 1st Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry of which was appointed officer commanding.