Shantha Kottegoda
| Shantha H.S. Kottegoda | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 6, 1949 Kottegoda, Southern Province, Dominion of Ceylon |
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Service/branch | Sri Lanka Army |
| Years of service | 1970 - 2005 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Sri Lanka Light Infantry |
| Commands held | Commander of the Army |
| Battles/wars |
1971 JVP Insurrection 1987–89 JVP Insurrection Sri Lankan Civil War |
| Awards | WWV, RWP, RSP, USP, PBP, VOM, (partial list) |
| Other work | Sri Lankan Ambassador to Brazil |
General Shantha Kottegoda, WWV, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP was a Sri Lankan Army officer and the Seventeenth Commander of the Sri Lankan Army from 1 July 2004 – 5 December 2005. He was the former Sri Lankan Ambassador to Brazil and current Sri Lanka Ambassador to Thailand.
Shantha Kottegoda has served the Sri Lankan Army for 29 years in throughout the island. He has been involved in both the 1971 and 1987–89 JVP Insurrection as well as the Sri Lankan Civil War, participating in major operations against the LTTE in the North and East of the country. Kottegoda has held numerous positions in the Army, among them he was Colonel of the Regiment of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry, General officer Commanding Division in Jaffna, General officer Commanding 51 Division in Vavuniya. He has been Director of Training, Director Military Intelligence and at present he is Director General, Training at Army Headquarters.
Kottegoda was born to S. H. P. Kottegoda and Sheela Kottegoda on 6 November 1949, in Kottegoda, Matara, in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka. Kottegoda started his schooling at St. Aloysius' College, Galle and then moving to S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia in Grade. He was active in many sports including cricket, athletics, hockey, rifle shooting, swimming, water polo and others, in which he excelled. He had become a cadet and by 1964 was Lance Sergeant of the junior Cadet Platoon, receiving the junior Cadet Prize for special merit that year. By 1969 he was promoted to the rank of Company Quarter Master Sergeant as well as being appointed a School Prefect, and Head Prefect of Buck House. It was this commitment to sport and discipline that prepared him for his career in the military.
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