Kamal Gunaratne

Major General Kamal Gunaratne, WWV, RWP, RSP, USP, ndc, psc, GR is a Sri Lankan general, who was the former Commander Security Forces Headquarters - Wanni, General Officer Commanding (GOC), 53 Division and was a former Deputy Ambassador to Brazil.

Born to a family of teachers, his father was a School Principle. Educated at Dharmapala Vidyalaya and Ananda College, he joined the army in 1981 as a cadet officer, undergoing training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy. He attended the Army War College, Mhow, the Defence Services Staff College and the National Defence College, New Delhi.

After completing his basic training and a commando course, he was commissioned into the Rajarata Rifles as a Second Lieutenant. Following the disbandment of the Rajarata Rifles he was one for the initial officers of the newly formed Gajaba Regiment. Serving as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander in the Gajaba Regiment, he was promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant and Captain. In 1987 he took part in the Vadamarachchi Operation and thereafter was deployed to Colombo for internal sqcurity duties. In 1990, he was the officer commanding the Mankulam Army Camp when it came under intense LTTE attack and under orders from the Wanni Headqaurtes made a successful withdrawl from the besigded camp. In 1991, he was promoted to the rank of Major and was appointed Second in Command of the 6th Battalion, GR. He of the Commanding officer of the Silawathura Army Camp when it came under siege by the LTTE, holding off the LTTE attack for several days until 6GR was relived by reinforcements. During the operation he was wounded. Following deployment to Weli Oya he was once again wounded seriously. After returning to operational duties he was transferred to Army Headquarters as a Grade II Staff Officer in the Directorate of Logistics. In 1994, having been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel he took command of the 6GR,taking part in the Operation Riviresa. Thereafter he was appointed Grade I Staff Officer at Joint Services Operational Headquarters coordinating the Operation Jayasikurui.

As a Colonel he was Bridged Commander of the Air Mobile Brigade at the on set of the Eelam War IV, he went on to take command of the 53 Division and was promoted to the rank of Brigadier. 53 Division took part in many major battles leading to the death of LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. He was also the Colonel of the Regiment of the Mechanized Infantry Regiment.

Following the war Gunaratne served as Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni, Deputy Ambassador to Brazil and Master General Ordnance at the Army Headquarters before his retirement in 2016.

He authored a book Road to Nandikadal on the war against LTTE terrorists, which was published in 2016.