General Lionel Piyananda Balagalle, (15 June 1947 – 26 October 2023), was a senior Sri Lanka Army officer, who served as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army and the Chief of the Defence Staff. He is known for formalising military intelligence operations within the Sri Lanka Army, having founded the Directorate of Military Intelligence and the Military Intelligence Corps.
Early life and education
Born in Colombo, both Balagalle's parents were teachers. Having received his primary education in a rural school in Ratnapura, he attended Ananda College for his secondary education. He excelled in sports winning college colours. He was a senior school prefect and a cadet.
Military career
Artillery officer
Balagalle studied medicine before he joined the Ceylon Army as an Officer Cadet on 5 April 1965. Receiving his basic training at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th Regiment, Ceylon Artillery on 5 April 1967 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant February 1969. As a troop commander, he took part in counterinsurgency operations in the 1971 JVP Insurrection and later attended the Indian Army School of Artillery in Deolali from September 1971 to February 1972 for the Artillery Young Officers Course (Field/CB), having been promoted to the rank of captain in October 1971.
Staff officer
Captain Balagalle served as the adjutant of the 3rd(V) Battalion, Gemunu Watch, before serving as a General Staff Officer (Grade 3) at the Army Headquarters in operations and training. He then served as General Staff Officer (Grade 2) at HQ Jaffna; Staff Officer (Grade 2) Admin at Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force HQ and SO2 Logistics at Special Force HQ. He attended the Intelligence Staff Officers Course in Pune from August 1975 to October 1975, then returned to Deolali from August 1977 to September 1978 for the Long Gunnery Staff Officers Course (Field) qualifying as an Instructor Gunnery (IG) and was promoted to the rank of Major in October 1978. He attended the Senior Officers Artillery Implementation Course in Pakistan.
Military intelligence
Having transferred to the Joint Operations Command (JOC) as the GSO 2 operations, he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in December 1985 and then served as GSO 1, where he was tasked with the military intelligence operations of the JOC, playing a major role in planning the Vadamarachchi Operation. Promoted to Colonel in December 1988, he served as the Colonel General Staff of the JOC, directing intelligence gathering in subduing the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection. Major General Sarath Munasinghe mention's in his book A Soldier's Version, that he and Colonel Balagalle were present at the HQ Operation Combine during the intergration of the JVP leader Rohana Wijeweera on 12 November 1989 following his capture and subsequent disappearance. He attended the Intelligence Security Course and the Intelligence Security Command Course in the United Kingdom in September 1989. Colonel Balagalle became the first Director of Military Intelligence and Commanding Officer of the Military Intelligence Corps, serving from 1990 to 1994, having been promoted to the rank of Brigadier in April 1991. In 1993, Brigadier Balagalle was found at fault along with several other senior officers for their failure to prevent a major attack by the LTTE by a military court of inquiry following the Battle of Pooneryn.
Higher command
Balagalle had served as Brigade Commander of the 4 Brigade and the Artillery Brigade as well as Area Headquarters Wanni (1994). From January 1996 to December 1996, he attended the National Security and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College and was promoted to the rank of Major General in April 1996. Balagalle served as General Officer Commanding, Task Force 2 (for Elephant Pass, Pooneryn, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya areas), 51 Division. He then served as Commander Security Forces Headquarters – Jaffna and Commander Security Forces Headquarters – Wanni. In latter role, he conducted several offensive operations code named Rivibala (1998) and Ranagosha 1-4 (1999). Returning to Army Headquarters, he served as Deputy Chief of Staff and thereafter Chief of Staff of the Army. He was also the Colonel Commandant of Military Intelligence Corps (1997 - 1998).