title: Asoka Jayawardena
text: # Asoka Jayawardena
  
  Major General Deshamanya Asoka Kanthilal Jayawardena, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, was a Sri Lankan army general and politician. He was the former Provincial Governor of the Governor of North Eastern Province and Secretary to the Minister of Defence.
  
  ## Military career
  
  Jayawardena was Overall Operational Commander (OOC) of the Sri Lanka Army. In 1997 he was succeeded by Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya. Jayawardena also served as Security Forces Commander in Jaffna.
  
  ## Political career
  
  Retiring from the Sri Lanka Army in 1998, Jayawardena was appointed as Governor of North Eastern Province. His predecessor Gamini Fonseka resigned from the office due to a difference of opinion with the President at the time. He is known to be a close confidant of the President Chandrika Kumaratunga, and he is believed to be one of her principal military advisors.
  
  Jayawardena was the first governor of the province to visit the Jaffna peninsula after the establishment of the North Eastern Provincial Council.
  
  ## Awards
  
  His awards and decorations include the Medals; Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV) and Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP).
  
  In 2005 he was awarded the National title, Deshamanya.
  
  ### Sri Lankan awards
  
  In Order of Precedence
  
  * Rana Wickrama Padakkama
  * Rana Sura Padakkama
  * Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
  * Uttama Seva Padakkama
  