Major GeneraL Parami Kulathunge RSP USP USAWC, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army is no more. He was the latest Senior Officer of the Armed Forces to fall prey to an LTTE (Tamil Tigers) suicide bomber Monday (26) morning at about 7.50 a.m. The suicide bomber’s explosive-laden motorbike rammed into the official vehicle of Major General Kulatunge near Pannipitiya junction, as it was proceeding towards Colombo during the morning rush hour. 
Major General Parami Kulatunge was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General effective from today (26).
LTTE’s endless thirst for blood saw three more Army personnel and a civilian were also killed in the blast that completely gutted Major General Kulathunge’s car, his back-up vehicle and damaged a few other moving vehicles on the road. At least, eight others injured in the powerful explosion were admitted to hospitals.
Major General Kulathunge (55) fondly addressed as “Parami†among his Senior Officers and associates is the third most Senior Officer in the Army and was holding the office of the Deputy Chief of Staff at the time he was slain by LTTE terrorists. His slaying occurred this morning (26) exactly two months after a Tamil Tiger woman suicide bomber failed to decimate Army Commander Lt General Sarath Fonseka inside the Army Headquarters.
Major General P.S.B. Kulathunge joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet on 20th July 1971. After his initial military training, he was commissioned to the Gemunu Watch as a Second Lieutenant on 14th October 1972.
During his 34-year long military career, Major General Kulathunge has held a number of prestigious appointments including those of the Director General General Staff, Commander-Security Forces, Wanni and Deputy Commandant Kotalawala Defence Academy.
Born to a reputed family in Kandy, Parami Kulathunge completed his education at Trinity College, Kandy. He was enlisted to the Army on 20th July 1971, commissioned as the 2nd Lieutenant and subsequently posted to the 1st Battalion, the Gemunu Watch on 14.10.1972.
This budding Officer received his due promotions as a Lieutenant on 24th July 1974 and a Captain on 24th July 1977 respectively before he was promoted to the field rank of Major on 1st June 1982.
He served as Staff Officer, General Staff Officer, Colonel General Staff, Brigade Command and Deputy General Officer Commanding appointments.
Major Parami Kulatunge served as the Staff Officer I (Intelligence) Operation Headquarters, Minhistry of Defence (MoD) from 24.03.1989 until he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 01.10.1989. He continued his service at the MoD up to 01.10.1990.
Lieutenant Colonel Kulathunge was appointed the General Staff Officer (GSO) I of the 23 Brigade on 06.01.1990. He commanded the 6th Battalion Gemunu Watch from 20.07.1990 until he was promoted to the rank of Colonel on 27.06 1993.
Colonel Parami Kulathunge then took over as the Colonel (General Staff) Headquarters 2 Division on 27.06.1993. From 31.11.1993, he was the Deputy Commandant of Sir John Kotalawala Defence Academy at Ratmalana before he was appointed the Assistant Military Secretary on 10.06.1994.
After he was elevated to the rank of Brigadier on 01.12.1994, he took over the command of 22 Brigade Trincomalee and served there for two years until he became the Director Training Army Headquarters on 28.12. 1996.
Brigadier Parami Kulathunge was the Deputy General Officer Commanding for 56 Division, Mirusuvil, and 54 Division, Elephant Pass, between 01.10.1997 and 29.01.1998. After a seven-month tenure, as the Officiating Director General General Staff at Army Headquarters from 15.04.1999, he went to 52 Division, Varani on 28.11. 1999 after assuming duties as the General Officer Commanding.
He was promoted to the rank of Major General on 01.05.2000 in recognition of his illustrious career and entrusted duties as General Officer Commanding in 11 Division in Panagoda until October 2001.
On 06.09.2003, Major General Kulathunge was appointed the Director General General Staff, Army Headquarters where he served until 10.08. 2004.
He became the Commander, Security Forces Headquarters, Wanni on 10.08.2004 and served there until 21.12.2005. He had also been the Colonel of the Regiment, Gemunu Watch from 17.07.2003 until the time of his tragic demise.
On 06.12.2005 he was appointed the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, in which capacity he had been serving until the suicide bomber struck him. To his credit, he has followed International Military Education & Training Program in the US and several other courses including the Senior Command Course (India), Advanced Intelligence Course (Singapore), and the Intelligence Staff Officers’ Course (India) and a few other short courses. Apart from that he has also represented Sri Lanka in a number of international symposiums, including the Special Operations conference in the US, South Asia Peace Keeping Operations Seminar in Bangladesh, Pacific Armies Management seminar in Malaysia, Senior Military Officers’ Seminar in UK and UN Medal Awarding Parade in Haiti.
Several gallantry medals and decorations including Ranasura Padakkama (RSP), Riviresa campaign medal, Poorna Bhumi Padakkama, North & East operational medals, Desha Puthra medal and a few other medals were awarded to him in appreciation of his dedication and commitment to the service.
Major General Parami Kulatunge was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General effective from today (26).
His funeral with full military honors will take place on Wednesday (28) at Colombo general cemetery.
- Sri Lanka Army -
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