Sri Lanka’s first Field Marshal

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morrow, Sri Lanka has the country’s first Field Marshal, the highest rank in the Army – Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka. He is conferred the rank in recognition of the brave soldier’s distinguished achievements during a career in the Sri Lanka Army over a period of three decades (from 1970 onwards) culminating in as Commander of the Army from December 2005-15 July 2009, which included the last stages of the war against the LTTE. In most countries, the rank of Field Marshal is conferred on only a very few senior Army officers, generally those who had extraordinary military achievements as Generals. The term had derived from ‘marshal’ meaning the keeper of the king’s horses (from Old German Marh-scalc = ‘horse-servant’). Several European countries had used the term ‘marshal’ for many centuries. The equivalent ranks are Admiral of the Fleet i

n the Navy and Marshal of the Air Force in the Air Force. The office of marshal had been well established in England by the 12th century, but the modern military title of field marshal was introduced into the British Army in 1736 by King George II, who borrowed it from Germany. It was conferred only on a few senior Army officers like the chief of Britain’s Imperial General Staff. In the army of the former Soviet Union the rank was held by officers commanding army groups or higher commands. In neighbouring India, there have been only two – Sam Maneskshaw – the eighth Chief of Staff (1969) and Kodandera Madappa Cariappa, who led the Indian forces on the Western Front during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1947. The latter was awarded the rank in his 87th year (1986). In Pakistan, there has been only one so far – Muhammad Ayub Khan who appointed himself as Field Marshal when he was the second President of Pakistan (October 1958-March 1969). At the time General Sarath Fonseka retired, he was one of the most highly-decorated Army officers. During his career in the Army, the coveted awards and decorations the four-star General had won included Rana Wickrama Padakkama (Combat Gallantry Medal), Rana Sura Padakkama (Combat Excellence Medal), Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (Distinguished Service Decoration), Uttama Seva Padakkama (Meritorious Service Medal) Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, North and East Operations Medal, Desha Putra Sammanaya and several others. His decision to retire after being appointed as Chief of Defence Staff after the civil war ended in May 2009, which he saw as an attempt to sideline him was followed by a series of events in quick succession: unsuccessfully contesting the 2010 presidential election, getting elected to Parliament from the Colombo District, losing the Parliamentary seat when he had to serve a three-year prison sentence after being convicted by a military Court for alleged irregularities in Army procurements, released from prison after two years, back in politics supporting Maithripala Sirisena at the 2015 January presidential election, and given a complete presidential pardon with civic rights, rank and decorations restored by President Sirisena.