SYMPOSIUM OF EAST ASIA SECURITY (SEAS),APRIL 3-26, 2006

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000030

SIPDIS

USPACOM FOR PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ADVISOR-KAREN KELLEY; CANDICE
MATSUNAGA
STATE FOR EAP/EX/RPM FOR MEAD; SA/PD

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OEXC SCUL KPAO OEXC
SUBJECT: SYMPOSIUM OF EAST ASIA SECURITY (SEAS),APRIL 3-26, 2006
? SRI LANKAN NOMINATION

REF: SEAS-2006 BULLETIN NO.2


1. POST WISHES TO NOMINATE MAJOR GENERAL NISSANKA WIJESINGHE,
ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE SRI LANKA ARMY FOR PARTICIPATION IN SEAS
2006 PROGRAM.


2. NOMINEES BIO DATA FOLLOWS:


A. NAME IN FULL: NISSANKA ?WIJESINGHE?


B. SEX: MALE.


C. DOB: MARCH 1, 1954, POB: KALUTHARA, SRI LANKA.


D. NATIONALITY: SRI LANKAN.


E. NOMINATION FORWARDED TO: USPACOM PUBLIC
DIPLOMACY ADVISOR- KAREN KELLEY/PROGRAM
ASSISTANT-CANDICE MATSUNAGA.


F. RANK/SERVICE AND POSITION TITLE: MAJOR GENERAL;
ADJUTANT GENERAL, ARMY HEADQUARTERS, SRI LANKA
ARMY, DECEMBER 2005- TO DATE


G. RESPONSIBILITIES IN CURRENT POSITION:
AS THE ADJUTANT GENERAL OF THE SRI LANKA ARMY,
MAJOR GENERAL WIJESINGHE IS RESPONSIBLE IN THE
CONTROL AND IMPLEMENTING OF ALL ADMINISTRATIVE
MATTERS INCLUDING CIVIL ADMINISTRATION, WELFARE,
REHABILITATION, HUMANITARIAN LAW AND RECRUITMENT
OF STAFF TO THE SRI LANKA ARMY.


H. PREVIOUS RELATED POSITIONS:
QUARTER MASTER GENERAL ? ARMY HEADQUARTERS, AUGUST
?NOVEMBER 2005; GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING ? 21
DIVISION, DECEMBER 2004-JULY 2005 AND JANUARY-
JULY, 2003; GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING ? 56
DIVISION, AUGUST-DECEMBER 2003; GENERAL OFFICER
COMMANDING ? 52 DIVISION, JUNE-SEPTEMBER, 2002;
DEPUTY GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING, 53 DIVISION,
JANUARY 2001-MAY 2002; DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF
OPERATION, ARMY HEADQUARTERS, JANUARY 1999-
DECEMBER 2000; BRIGADE COMMANDER - ARTY BRIGADE
VAVUNIYA, OCTOBER 1997-DECEMBER 1998; BRIGADE
COMMANDER ? 231 BRIGADE WELIKANDA, JANUARY-
SEPTEMBER 1997; BRIGADE COMMANDER -9 BRIGADE
VASAVILAN, FEBRUARY-DECEMBER 1992; COLONEL GENERAL
STAFF ? 51 DIVISION JAFFNA, AUGUST 1995-FEBRUARY
1996; COMMANDING OFFICER -4TH REGIMENT SRI LANKA
ARTILLERY, APRIL 1994-AUGUST 1995; COMMANDANT ?
SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY, OCTOBER 1992-MARCH 1994;
STAFF OFFICER GRADE 1 ? GENERAL BRANCH AT SECURITY
HEADQUARTERS JAFFNA, SEPTEMBER 1991-SEPTEMBER 1992


I. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:
YOUNG OFFICERS COURSE, SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY, INDIA,
FEBRUARY-JULY, 1979;
ADVANCE GUNNERY COURSE, SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY,
INDIA, MAY-JULY 1982;
FIELD OFFICER GUNNERY COURSE, SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY,
PAKISTAN, MAY-AUGUST 1987;

LONG GUNNERY STAFF COURSE, SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY,
INDIA, JULY 1989-SEPTEMBER 1990;
ARTILLERY ADVANCE COURSE, FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA,
USA, MARCH-SEPTEMBER 1991;
SENIOR COMMANDER ARTILLERY, SCHOOL OF ARTILLERY,
INDIA, FEBRUARY-APRIL 1992;
EXECUTIVE COURSE, ASIA-PACIFIC CENTER FOR SECURITY
STUDIES (APCSS),HAWAII, SEPTEMBER-DECEMBER 2002;
NATIONAL DEFENCE COLLEGE COURSE, KENYA, JANUARY-
NOVEMBER, 2004


J. PUBLICATIONS: NONE


K. SIGNIFICANT MEMBERSHIPS: NONE


L. PREVIOUS TRAVEL TO U.S.:
1991 ? SIX MONTHS ? FOLLOWED ARTILLERY ADVANCE
COURSE ? FORT SILL, OKLAHOMA
1997 ? ONE WEEK ? CALIFORNIA ? TEAM MEMBER, ANTPQ
36 RADAR INSPECTION TEAM
2000 ? TWO WEEKS ? CALIFORNIA - TEAM MEMBER, ANTPQ
36 RADAR INSPECTION TEAM


M. LANGUAGES: NATIVE LANGUAGE: SINHALA
- ENGLISH PROFICIENCY: VERY GOOD


N. POST OBJECTIVES FOR NOMINATING:
A SENIOR ARMY OFFICER, WITH 32 YEARS OF SERVICE,
MAJOR GENERAL NISSANKA WIJESINGHE HAS SERVED
ALMOST ALL BRANCHES UNDER THE SRI LANKA ARMY. HIS
DEDICATION TO DUTY HAS BEEN REWARDED BY RAPID
PROMOTIONS TO MAJOR GENERAL AND THE ADJUTANT
GENERAL OF THE SRI LANKA ARMY HEADQUARTERS.
POST BELIEVES THE KNOWLEDGE ACQUIRED THROUGH THE
SEAS PROGRAM WILL BE DIRECTLY APPLICABLE IN HIS
DUTIES AND ALSO HELP THE U.S./SRI LANKA JOINT
MILITARY COOPERATION PROGRAMS.



O. JUSTIFICATION FOR NOMINATION:
MAJOR GENERAL WIJESINGHE IS AN IMPORTANT PLAYER IN
THE SRI LANKAN MILITARY STRUCTURE, REPORTING AND
ADVISING THE COMMANDER ON ALL AREAS THAT COMES
UNDER HIS JURISDICTION. PROVIDING A SENIOR SRI
LANKAN MILITARY OFFICER WITH DIRECT EXPOSURE TO
U.S. MILITARY OPERATIONS AND DEFENSE POSTURE IN
THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION WOULD DIRECTLY SUPPORT THE
MPP GOAL OF IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF U.S.
POLICIES AND THEIR UNDERLYING CONTEXT.


P. EMBASSY POINT OF CONTACT: ANGELA L. GEMZA,
CULTURAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION,
AMERICAN CENTER 44, GALLE ROAD, COLOMBO 3, SRI
LANKA. TELEPHONE: (94-11) 242-1271; E-MAIL:
GEMZAAL@STATE.GOV


Q. MARITAL STATUS: MARRIED


R. MAILING ADDRESS:
OFFICE ADDRESS: ADJUTANT GENERAL?S BRANCH, ARMY
HEADQUARTERS, COLOMBO, SRI LANKA. TEL: (94-11)
243-4802

HOME ADDRESS: 44 ARMY HOUSING SCHEME, THUMBOWILA
BOKUNDARA, PILIYANDALA, SRI LANKA. TEL: (94-11)
260-4311


S. MEDICAL, PHYSICAL, DIETARY OR OTHER PERSONAL
CONSIDERATIONS: NONE


3. PLEASE ADVISE ACCEPTANCE OF THIS NOMINATION.
LUNSTEAD