June 26, Colombo (LNW): Major General Kapila Dolage has officially taken up duties as the 67th Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army, marking a significant milestone in a military career that spans more than three decades.
His appointment comes into effect from 26 June and reflects the Army’s confidence in his extensive experience, strategic insight, and longstanding service.
A senior officer of the Corps of Sri Lanka Engineers, Major General Dolage brings with him a wealth of operational and leadership expertise accumulated over 33 years in active service. He previously held the post of Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force (SLAVF), to which he was appointed in February 2025, and concurrently serves as the Colonel Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps.
Educated at Sir James Peiris Maha Vidyalaya, Nanuoya and Royal College, Colombo, he began his military journey in January 1990 as part of the Cadet Intake 33. His early achievements set the tone for a distinguished path ahead—graduating from the Sri Lanka Military Academy with top honours, he was awarded both the prestigious ‘Sword of Honour’ and the ‘President’s Award’ as the best all-round officer cadet.
Commissioned into the Corps of Engineers in June 1991, Major General Dolage has held a variety of operational roles, ranging from commanding engineer regiments in the field to leading infantry brigades and divisions. His battlefield experience is complemented by key staff and instructional appointments both in Sri Lanka and overseas. Notably, he served as a senior staff officer with the United Nations Mission in Haiti, and has held influential training and operational roles at multiple levels within Army Headquarters.
In the realm of professional development, Major General Dolage has demonstrated a strong academic and strategic focus. He is a graduate of the Sri Lanka Army Command and Staff College and the Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College. His academic credentials also include a Master’s in Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya, a postgraduate diploma from the University of Malaya, and a Master of Arts in Security Studies, with a focus on civil-military relations, from the Naval Postgraduate School in California.
Throughout his career, he has contributed extensively to institutional development, including formulating plans for career progression of personnel, strategic documentation, and crisis response initiatives. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played a critical role in planning national-level interventions as Brigadier Planning at the National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak. He was also instrumental in drafting the Army’s strategic development blueprint, titled Army Way Forward 2020–2025.
Currently, he chairs several high-level military committees, including the Army Defence Review 2030 and the Defence Services Defence Review 2030, while also serving as the chief editor for the upcoming historical volume on the Sri Lanka Army’s evolution from 1999 to 2024. His academic involvement continues through lecturing roles in international relations and strategic studies at various military institutions.
Major General Dolage’s exemplary service has been recognised through numerous honours, including the Uttama Seva Padakkama, awarded for distinguished conduct and unblemished service.
