title: Sumith Balasuriya
text: # Sumith Balasuriya
  
  Major General Sumith Balasuriya, VSV, USP is a retired Sri Lankan army general, who was the former Commandant of the Volunteer Force; Vice Chancellor, General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and GOC, 23 Division.
  
  Educated at Royal College, Colombo, Balasuriya joined the army in 1974 after completing basic training at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa, he was commissioned in to the Sri Lanka Artillery in 1975 as a Second Lieutenant. Having served as an Instructor Gunnery, he went to become the Colonel-Commandant, Sri Lanka Artillery in 2009.
  
  Having completed staff college and graduated of the National Defence College, India, he held several senior command and staff appointments in the army, including General Officer Commanding, 23 Division; Director General Financial Management, Army Headquarters; Military Co-ordinating Officer, Trincomalee. Becoming the Vice Chancellor Commandant of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, he was tipped to become the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. However he was appointed as Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.
  
  He retired from the army in 2010.
  
  He was awarded the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP), the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, the Purna Bhumi Padakkama and the North and East Operations Medal.
  
  