Quick Facts
Biography
Maj. General Dampath Fernando is a Sri Lankan army officer and the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He is also the current Colonel of the Regiment of the Gemunu Watch.
Education and military career
On finishing his schooling at De Mazenod College Kandana, Fernando enlisted in the Sri Lanka Army through its 18th Officer Cadet Intake on 27 April 1983. Completing basic training at Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 7 November 1984 and posted to the Gemunu Watch.
Commands he has held over the years include that of the 23 Division at the rank of Brigadier, in which role he oversaw the disarmament of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal in 2009
Following the end of the civil war, Fernando was forced into retirement by Defense Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse in a reshuffle of senior officers in the army, due to his associations with- and loyalty to- Mahinda Rajapakse's presidential rival Sarath Fonseka, whom Fernando had served under for the length of Eelam War IV. He was reinstated by newly elected President Maithripala Sirisena in February 2015 and appointed Commander, Security Force Headquarters- Mullaitivu (SFHQ-MLT). On 4 August 2017, Fernando was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff.