Major General Prasad Samarasinghe has been appointed as new Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Army effective from May 16. 

The Chief of Staff position is the second most senior position in the Army next to the post of Army Commander. 

Samarasunghe has wide ranging experience in the military service and has held senior positions in the Army at various levels. 

Major Gen Samarasinghe joined Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet in 1980. After receiving commission as a 2/ Lieutenant he was posted to the Sri Lanka Army Signals Corp. During the tenure in the Army he had completed the Master of Science in Management degree at the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and completed the staff course at the Command and Staff College, Bangaladesh.

In his long and illustrious military career that spans over 34 years Maj Gen Samarasinghe has held a number of operational and staff appointments. He was able to effectively play a multi faceted role during his tenure as the military spokesman at the height of war.

He has also served as the Defence Advisor (Minister Counselor) at the Sri Lankan High Commission in the UK.  He then became the Director General of the Centre for Research and Development under the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development and Regimental Commander of the Military Intelligence Corps (MIC) of the Sri Lanka Army.