Milinda Peiris

Milinda received his education from Nalanda College, Colombo and was a Senior Cadet and Scout at school. Some of his contemporaries at Nalanda are Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala, Major General Ubaya Madawela, Major General Janaka Walgama, Consultant Neurologist Udaya Ranawaka & former Sri Lanka test cricketer Sanath Kaluperuma.[4]

He is a graduate of University of Delhi India holding a Master of Philosophy in Philosophy, National Defence College (India) New Delhi, Defence Services Command And Staff College Bangladesh and United States Army Armor School Kentucky, USA. Also holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from Open University of Sri Lanka and a Diploma in Senior Level Defense Management in University of Indore, India.

Major General Milinda Peiris joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet in 1980 and had his basic training at the Officers Training School in Madras, India and at Sri Lanka Military Academy, Diyatalawa. He was commissioned into the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment Sri Lanka Armoured Corps as a 2nd Lieutenant on completion of his training. He has held vital and important appointments in the Army commensurate with each rank held. He is a graduate of National Defence College, New Delhi, Command and Staff College, Bangladesh and Armour School, Fort Knox, Kentucky, USA.

As a pioneer squadron commander of 4 Armoured Regiment, he led tank squadrons to many crucial battles, and he commanded the 5th Regiment of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps with distinction. He was also the Commanding Officer of the Officer Cadet Wing at the Sri Lanka Military Academy. Subsequently, he commanded the 561 Infantry Brigade, 232 Infantry Brigade. Thereafter, he commanded the Armoured Brigade. He was the Director Operations at the Joint Operations Headquarters and had been appointed as the Defence, Military, Naval and Air Attaché for Sri Lanka in the USA.

Major General Milinda Peiris Commanded the 22 Division in Trincomalee as the General Officer Commanding during the period of liberation of the East by the Security Forces.

On return from National Defence College in India, he was appointed as the Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU) on 28 December 2008.

During his service as the Vice Chancellor of KDU he was contemporaneously appointed as the Director General of the Centre for Research and Development, Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Military Secretary to the Army Headquarters.

By reaching the pinnacle of his career, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and also served as the Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Armoured Corps.

Major General Milinda Peiris holds a Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree awarded by the University of Madras, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management from the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), and a Diploma in Senior Level Defence Management from the University of Indore, India.

During his military career, he valiantly fought in many battles launched to eradicate ruthless terrorism from the motherland in different capacities ranging from a Troop Leader to a Divisional Commander. During his tour of duty, he was severely wounded in action in the Operation “Sathjaya III”. He is a recipient of Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) for his acts of bravery in the face of the enemy and Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) awarded for distinguished conduct in the face of the enemy in battle. He is also a recipient of Vishishta Seva Vibhushana (VSV) medal for exceptional, distinguished and loyal service in the Sri Lanka Army and Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for his unblemished military career in the Army. He was awarded the Legion of Merit (LOM), which is a military decoration of the United States Armed Forces for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements.

Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Education

Under his patronage General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University expanded to be a fully-fledged university consisting of nine faculties, and he was instrumental in developing KDU to lead in the world of tertiary education, lighting the torch of wisdom to thousands of students both local and foreign. Especially, during his tenure as the Vice Chancellor, he took an untiring effort to establish the Medical Faculty of KDU, which became nationally and internationally known for its unique ability to produce military medical graduates of the highest caliber to fulfill the healthcare requirements of the tri-services, state sector and the society at large. Further, he developed the University Hospital concept of KDU as a tertiary care hospital and accomplished mammoth projects while serving in this capacity until 17 February 2016.

In July 2014, Major General Milinda Peiris was conferred with the Award for “Outstanding Contribution to Education” by the World Chancellors and Vice Chancellors Congress in recognition of the “strategic and iconic” position occupied by him in the fraternity of Vice Chancellors as an agent of change in global education. Further, he was conferred with the “Education Leadership Award” by the World Education Congress on 23 July 2015.

In recognition of his contribution to Sri Lanka’s higher education sector, Major General Milinda Peiris was appointed as a Committee Member in the National Education Commission and in the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka. He was a Member of the Board of Management of Defence Services Command & Staff College, the Committee of Vice Chancellors & Directors (CVCD), Sri Lanka, and the Standing Committee on Quality Assurance Accreditation of the University Grant Commission.

He served as a member of the Council, University of Moratuwa and also of the Board of Management of the Lakshman Kadiragamar Institute for International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS).

Major General Milinda Peiris is married to Nilan, a lawyer by profession and is blessed with two sons, Malik and Avinash.

• "Flying hints at aviation meeting". Sunday Times - Columns. 2010-10-10. Retrieved 6 March 2011.

• "Second court martial named". Infolanka. Mar 28, 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2011.

• "Friends or Foes? The military and the people of the East". Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. March 6, 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
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