Sepala Attygalle

General Deshamanya Don Sepala Attygalle, (14 October 1921 – 15 January 2001) was a Sri Lankan army officer, civil servant and diplomat. The longest serving Commander of the Sri Lankan Army (1967–1977), he went on to serve as the Permanent secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Sri Lankan High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

He is most notable for successfully crushing the 1971 Insurrection in a matter of months and becoming the first Sri Lankan army officer to be promoted to the rank of full general. He is known as the "Father of the Armoured Corps" and was The Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II during her coronation in 1953.

Early life and education Attygalle was educated at the Royal College, Colombo, where he became the head prefect, won colours in both athletics and rugby; and was the Senior Sergeant of the Cadet Contingent of Royal College. Upon completing his schooling, he entered the University College, Colombo.

Military career Second World War With the outbreak of World War II in 1940, Attygalle left his studies at the university college to join the Ceylon Defense Force with its wartime expansion and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ceylon Light Infantry on 15 November 1940. He underwent basic officer training at Diyatalawa, where he took the sword of honour at the army passing out parade in 1941 and thereafter underwent advanced training in India. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Captain in 1943. He was demobilized 9 March 1946, and had been the Defence Services 100-metre Champion until 1944.

Government service Following the end of the war, he joined the government service as the Assistant Controller of Textiles and thereafter served as the Assistant Controller of Exports and Imports.

From May to July 1952, he attended the Company Commanders' Course at the School of Infantry, Warminster and the Land/Air Warfare Course at the School of Land/Air Warfare from October to November 1952. Thereafter he was attached to the 1st Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in Germany; serving with the NATO Forces in Europe. On his return he resumed his post as GSO2, Army Headquarters.

Honors and decorations During his military career Attygalle had been awarded several decorations. He was made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (Military Division) (MVO) by Queen Elizabeth II during her Majesty's visit to Ceylon in 1954, which was later upgraded to Lieutenant (LVO) in 1984. For wartime service in World War II with the Ceylon Defense Force, he received the Defence Medal (1946), the War Medal 1939–1945(1946) and the Efficiency Medal (Ceylon) (1950); and for service in the Sri Lankan Army, he received the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal, the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal and the Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal. He received the Vadamarachchi Operation Medal during his service as Secretary of Defence.

Honors Attygalle was promoted to the rank of general upon his retirement in 1977. He was awarded the title Deshamanya by the President Sri Lanka in 1990. He was a made a Member of the Royal Victorian Order, which was later upgraded to Lieutenant. Doctor of Literature (honorary) by the University of Sri Lanka.