16 Facts About Shantha Kottegoda

Shantha Kottegoda had served as the Sri Lankan Ambassador to Brazil and Thailand.

Shantha Kottegoda has served the Sri Lankan Army for 35 years throughout the island.

Shantha Kottegoda has held numerous positions in the army; among them he was chief of staff, colonel of the regiment of the Sri Lanka Light Infantry, general officer commanding 55 Division, 51 Division, 21 Division and served as director of military intelligence.

Shantha Kottegoda was the second in his family, Deepthi Weerasuriya is his elder sister.

Shantha Kottegoda was active in many sports including cricket, athletics, hockey, rifle shooting, swimming, water polo and others, in which he excelled.

Shantha Kottegoda 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.

Shantha 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.

Shantha Kottegoda was commissioned a second lieutenant of the 1st Battalion of the Ceylon Light Infantry in June 1971 during the 1971 JVP Insurrection.

Shantha Kottegoda was promoted to captain in 1976 and attended the Battalion Support Weapon Officers Course in India.

Shantha Kottegoda was promoted to colonel in 1991, to brigadier in 1993 and to major general in 1998.

Shantha Kottegoda graduated from the Army War College, Mhow and the National Defence College, India.

On November 24,2003 Shantha Kottegoda was appointed chief of staff of the Sri Lanka Army.

Shantha Kottegoda was serving as army commander when he retired from the army on December 5,2005 and having been promoted to the rank of general on his last day of service.

Shantha Kottegoda served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Brazil and thereafter as Sri Lanka Ambassador to Thailand.

Shantha Kottegoda has appointed as the Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in December 2022.

Shantha Kottegoda is married to Sonia, they have a son and a daughter named Asanka and Avanthi respectively.