D S Attygalle

General Deshamanya Don Sepala Attygalle MVO, CLI (1922—January 2001) was a former Commander of the Sri Lankan Army, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

He was educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo where he became the Head prefect, won colours in both athletics and rugby and was the Senior Sergeant of the Cadet Contingent of Royal.

With the out break of World War II seeking a King's Commission, he joined as a cadet officer taking the Sword of Honour at the Army passing out parade at Diyatalawa in 1941. Soon after he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Ceylon Light Infantry, after the war the continued to serve in the newly established Ceylon Army.

In 1967, Major General D. S. Attygalle took over as the Commander of the Army from Major General B.R. Heyn. Under his leadership the army crushed the 1971 Insurrection within two months and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General on April 4, 1974 thus being the first officer of the Sri Lanka Army to hold this rank. When he retired in 1977 after having served for ten years as Commander, he was promoted to the rank of General.

After retirement, he held such appointments in the government as Additional Secretary and later Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, High Commissioner for Sri Lanka in the UK, Chairman, Air Lanka Ltd., and Chairman, Airport and Aviation Services (Sri Lanka) Ltd. His military funeral in January 2001, was well attended by his family members, friends and colleagues who gathered to mourn his loss.


Allegiance: Sri Lanka
Service/branch: Ceylon Defence Force, Ceylon Army,Sri Lanka Army
Years of service: 1942-1977
Rank: General
Unit: Ceylon Light Infantry
Commands: Commander of the Sri Lankan Army
Battles/wars: World War II, 1971 Insurrection
Awards: Member of the Royal Victorian Order
Other work: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence, High Commissioner