title: Sri Lanka Army ranks and insignia
text: # Sri Lanka Army ranks and insignia
  
  The following tables present the ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Army. The ranks are similar to the British army officer ranks and the other ranks.
  
  At its formation in 1949, the Ceylon Army adopted the rank structures of the British Army.
  
  The highest rank in the Sri Lanka Army is Field Marshal, though the rank has no appointment in the army, it was first awarded in 2015 as an honorary rank to Sarath Fonseka for his war time service, the rank has been awarded for his whole life.
  
  The highest rank of a serving officer is that of Lieutenant General (three-star rank) which is held by the Commander of the Army. The rank of full general (four-star rank) is given to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), it is also awarded to the Commander of the Army on the day of his retirement (if the CDS is not appointed from the army). Commanders of the Army since the late 1980s have held the rank of lieutenant general with the exception of Sarath Fonseka and Shavendra Silva who were promoted to full generals while serving as commander of the army, on the other hand, Shavendra Silva got the duty of the Chief of Defence Staff simultaneously holding the appointment of commander of the army.
  
  ## Officers
  
  | Rank group | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | General/flag officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Sri Lanka Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
  | Sri Lanka Army vte | Field marshal | Field marshal | General | General | Lieutenant general | Lieutenant general | Major general | Major general | Brigadier | Brigadier | Colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Major | Captain | Captain | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet | Officer cadet |
  | | Special rank | Special rank | Held by the Chief of Defence Staff (if not appointed from the navy/air force) | Held by the Chief of Defence Staff (if not appointed from the navy/air force) | Held by the army head | Held by the army head | The most junior general in the Sri Lanka Army; held by division commanders, principal staff officers at the army headquarters and other highly important appointments | The most junior general in the Sri Lanka Army; held by division commanders, principal staff officers at the army headquarters and other highly important appointments | Not considered as general in the Sri Lanka Army | Not considered as general in the Sri Lanka Army | | | | | Majors are junior officers in the army | Majors are junior officers in the army |
  
  ## Other Ranks
  
  | Rank group | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted | Enlisted |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Sri Lanka Army vte | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia | No insignia |
  | Sri Lanka Army vte | Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class I | Warrant officer class II | Warrant officer class II | Staff sergeant | Staff sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Sergeant | Corporal/ Bombardier | Corporal/ Bombardier | Corporal/ Bombardier | Corporal/ Bombardier | Lance corporal/ Lance bombardier | Lance corporal/ Lance bombardier | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) | Private (or equivalent) |
  
  ## Retired officer's rank
  
  An officer of or above rank of captain when retired from service, may retain his/her rank and indicate that he/she is a retired officer with the use of the abbreviation (Rtd) immediately after his/her name.
  
  