Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage Appointed Overall Combined Operational Commander: New Unit Set Up To Curb Activities Of Extremist Militants

Major General Sathyapriya Liyanage, Commander, Security Forces - West functions as the Overall Combined Operational Commander (OOC) aiming to curb activists of Islamist militants. 

Rear Admiral W.A.S.S Perera of the Navy, Air Vice Marshal W.L.R.P Rodrigo of the Air Force and Superintendent of Police L.K.D Anil Priyantha function as Coordinating Officers of respective services and the Police in the OOC.

Major General Liyanage was instrumental in the final phase of the Eelam war against the LTTE. 

The Army Headquarters Monday (29) evening announced that all Army, Navy, Air Force and Police areas within the Western Province and Puttalam District have been placed under command to the Overall Operational Command - Colombo for operational purposes with immediate effect.

The Overall Operational Command (OOC) in Colombo will begin its functions under the Chief of Defence Staff with immediate effect, says a communiqué sent to the Ministry of Defence by Lieutenant General Mahesh Senanayake, Commander of the Army at the Army Headquarters.(