In a significant development, Retired General Daya Ratnayake, who served as the 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, has officially joined the main opposition party, the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB). The retired military leader’s entry into politics was formalized during a meeting with SJB Leader and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa on Monday, 29th January.
During the meeting, Gen. (Retd.) Ratnayake was appointed as a Senior Advisor for Public Policy within the political party. With a distinguished military career that commenced as a cadet in 1980, General Ratnayake has held various key positions throughout his service. Notably, he assumed the role of the 20th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army on 1st August 2013.
Throughout his illustrious military career, Gen. (Retd.) Ratnayake has been honored with several prestigious accolades, including the esteemed ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama,’ ‘Rana Sura Padakkama,’ ‘Uttama Seva Padakkama,’ and the ‘Desha Putra Sammanaya.’ His wealth of experience and leadership qualities make his addition to the SJB a significant move as the party continues to strengthen its ranks and expertise.
