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Richard Udugama

The Honourable Major General Deshamanya
Alexander Richard Udugama
MBE, psc, CSR, MP
Member of the Sri Lanka Parliament
for Matale
In office
7 June 1970 – 18 May 1977
Preceded by Alick Aluwihare
Succeeded by Alick Aluwihare
Personal details
Born 11 November 1911
Matale
Died 14 May 1995(1995-05-14) (aged 83)
Nationality Sri Lankan
Political party Sri Lanka Freedom Party
Occupation Soldier
Religion Buddhist
Awards MBE,
Burma Star,
Defence Medal,
War Medal 1939–1945
Military service
Allegiance Sri Lanka
Service/branch Ceylon Defence Force
Ceylon Army
Years of service 1940–1966
Rank Major General
Unit Ceylon Light Infantry,
Ceylon Sinha Regiment
Commands Commander of the Ceylon Army
Battles/wars World War II

Major General Deshamanya Alexander Richard Udugama, MBE, psc, CSR (11 November 1911 – 14 May 1995) was a Sri Lankan military leader, politician and diplomat. Former Commander of the Ceylon Army (1964–1966), he was elected as Member of Parliament for Matale in 1970 and served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Iraq from 1979 to 1982. He was accused of an alleged coup d'état in 1966.

He was born on 11 November 1911 in Matale to a rich family, who claimed to be linked to the Uva Rebellion. Educated at Trinity College, Kandy and won a Trinity Lion.

With the out break of World War II, he joined the Ceylon Defence Force and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Light Infantry in 1940. Thereafter he was posted to the 1st, 3rd and 4th Battalions of the Ceylon Light Infantry and undertook several infantry courses in Ceylon and India. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on 1 January 1943. In November 1943, he was transferred to the British 14th Army operating in Burma Campaign. During this time he served with the 7/2nd Punjab Regiment in the Arakan area, on the eastern side of Mayu Range. At this point he was captured Japanese and held in a POW camp until the end of the war in 1945. For his war service he was awarded the Burma Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939–1945. After the war, he was demobilized and became a planter. However he joined the new Ceylon Army when it was established in 1949 as a regular officer with the rank of Major.


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