Blog Archives

The Commander Who Defied All Odds: Legacy of General Balagalle-by Our Defence Affairs Editor Source:Slguardian General Lionel Piyananda Balagalle, an unwavering sentinel of the homeland, etched an indelible saga into Sri Lanka’s annals with his unparalleled dedication and monumental contributions. He stands as the veritable architect of Sri Lanka’s military intelligence, having erected the Directorate of Military Intelligence and the Military Intelligence Corps as enduring pillars. Balagalle’s tenure at the helm of the Sri Lanka Army and as the Chief of the Defence Staff stands as a paragon of exceptional leadership. Under his stewardship, military intelligence operations were elevated to a formalized art, and he was the linchpin in restoring societal equilibrium during turbulent epochs. As the inaugural Commanding Officer of the Military Intelligence Battalion and the founding Director of the Military Intelligence Corps, General Balagalle catapulted military intelligence to the forefront. He orchestrated the inaugural small group missions against ...