Shantha Kottegoda 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 . Early life . 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 . Military career . Kottegoda enlisted into the Sri Lankan Army in February 1970 , upon his completion of his Officer Cadet training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy , Diyatalawa , then called the Army Training Centre . He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of the 1st Battalion of the Ceylon Light Infantry in June 1971 . One of his reasons to joining the Army was so that he could continue to play sports . Quoted as saying " Taking part in sports , I gained confidence , improved my leadership qualities and I was fit both physically and mentally . It helped me to take decisions quickly and promptly . " He also said the training he gained from playing sport taught him of fair play , justice and discipline . His rise through the military ranks saw that in 1973 he was promoted to Lieutenant , Captain 1976 , Major 1980 , Colonel 1991 , Brigadier 1993 and Major General in 1998 . From 2000 thru 2002 , he the Security Forces Commander in Wanni . He served as Assistant & Deputy Director of the Counter Terrorist Division , National Intelligence Bureau and Commanded the Fourth Battalion Sri Lanka Light Infantry . In 2003 he was Duputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army for two months , October to November . On November 24 , 2003 Kottegoda was appointed Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army . As Chief of Staff , Her Excellency The President appointed him the Overall Security Forces Commander . Diplomatic career . Kottegoda served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Brazil . Personal life . Shantha Kottegoda is married to his wife Sonia , they have a son and a daughter named Asanka and Avanthi respectively . Awards . His awards and decorations include the Gallantry Medals ; Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya ( WWV ) , Rana Wickrama Padakkama ( RWP ) , Rana Sura Padakkama ( RSP ) , distinguished service medals ; Uttama Seva Padakkama ( USP ) and other notable medal campaign medals ; Vadamarachchi Operation Medal , Purna Bhumi Padakkama . Sri Lankan awards . In Order of Precedence