Field marshal (Sri Lanka)

Field marshal
Star insignia of field marshal
Country	Sri Lanka
Service branch	Sri Lanka Army
Abbreviation	FM
Rank	Five star
NATO rank	OF 10
Formation	22 March 2015
Next higher rank	None
Next lower rank	General

Field Marshal (FM) is a five star General officer rank and the highest attainable rank in the Sri Lanka Army. Field Marshal is ranked immediately above General and is largely a ceremonial rank, having been awarded only once. It is equivalent to an Admiral of the Fleet or a Marshal of the Air Force.

A Field Marshal remains an active serving officer of the Sri Lankan Army for life, it remains an honorary position with no command or administrative appointments and will be an officer not subjected to the Army Act. Therefore, a Field Marshal is permitted to engaged in political activities and take up political appointments. In the order of precedence the rank holder is equivalent to a cabinet minister. He can wear a full uniform on all ceremonial occasions. An officer of this rank is entitled to an office and staff as well as all privileges entitled to a serving General for life. This would include pay, official residence, transport and security detail. Furthermore, such officer his entitled to receive a guard of honor composed of four officers and 150 other ranks and a military funeral on his death with a 21-gun salute. The widow of such officer is entitled to the pay, allowances and residence given to her husband for remainder of her lifetime.

A Field Marshal's insignia consists of the National emblem over a crossed baton and saber in a lotus blossom wreath. On appointment, Field marshals are awarded a Gold-tipped baton which they may carry on formal occasions and a personal flag.

Sarath Fonseka is the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on 22 March 2015. His distinguished military career spanned four decades. Fonseka rose to be the Commander of Sri Lankan Army in 2005 and under his command, Sri Lankan forces conducted victorious campaigns against the LTTE ending the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009. He has been described as one of the best commanders in the world. The decisive result achieved by the Sri Lankan Army during this war under the extraordinary leadership of Fonseka followed by the political victimization by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, led to his successor President Maithripala Sirisena promoting him to the newly created rank of Field Marshal in March 2015.