Major General N.U.M.M.W Senanayake RWP RSP USP psc, more popularly known as Mahesh Senanayake, currently serving as the Commander Security Forces - Jaffna (SFHQ-J), has been appointed as 50th Chief of Staff (CoS) of the Sri Lanka Army.

Major General Senanayake who has been the Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna since 28 January 2016 is also the Colonel of the Regiment, Special Forces.

Here follows a brief profile of the newly-appointed Chief of Staff:

Major General Mahesh Senanayake was enlisted to the Sri Lanka Army on 16 October 1981 and followed the Officer Cadet Intake 16 (Long Course). On successful completion of his training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant and passed out as 1st in order of Merit and won the Sword of Honour. He was subsequently posted to the 1 Plant Engineer Regiment on 23 June 1983 and also had the privilege of serving as the Troop Commander/Squadron Commander in the Sri Lanka Army Plant Engineer Regiment.

In 1989 Major General Mahesh Senanayake volunteered for an inter unit transfer and joined the Regiment of Special Forces to hold the appointment of Squadron Commander of 1st Special Forces Regiment, and later on to command the 3rd Special Forces Regiment which was instrumental in introducing the LRRP concept to the Sri Lanka Army as the war for peace was taking a decisive turn.

Major General Senanayake has held a number of appointments, including the extra Regimental employment at the Sri Lanka Military Academy as an Officer Instructor. He also served as the Regimental Center Commandant of the Special Forces Regiment, Commander 211 Infantry Brigade - Vavuniya, Commander Special Forces Brigade and the General Officer Commanding 52 Division - Varani, Jaffna.

He has also served the staff appointment of Colonel General Staff, 52 Division and Brigadier General Staff at the Security Force Headquarters, Jaffna during the most critical phases of the humanitarian operations before May 2009.

Major General Mahesh Senanayake during his illustrious career has also held a number of appointments, including Directing Staff at the Army Command and Staff College (DSCSC) and Director Plans during which time the Humanitarian Operations against terrorists were at their peak in that critical hour of history. Thereafter, he performed duties with the US Army as the Senior Manager Project Management of Afghan Operations and Strategic Planning for Civil Reserved Air Fleet (CRAF). Before he was appointed as the Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna, he served as the Military Secretary at the Army Headquarters.

Major General Mahesh Senanayake had actively contributed to almost all the major military operations, conducted in the North and East of Sri Lanka during a span of more than 30 years.

Major General Mahesh Senanayake is a graduate of the prestigious United States Army Command and General Staff College. Besides, he holds a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in Civil Engineering from Jawaharlal Nehru University of India.

In recognition of his gallantry and his bravery in the face of the enemy during the operations, Major General Senanayake was awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Soora Padakkama (RSP) several times and the Uththama Seva Padakkma (USP) for his unblemished services in the Army.

Major General Mahesh Senanayake, a proud product of Colombo Ananda College is married and blessed with two daughters and a son.