Asoka Jayawardena

Major General Deshamanya Asoka Jayawardena RWP, RSP, VSV, USP
4th Governor of North Eastern Province
In office 13 November 1998 – 30 November 2004
Preceded by	Gamini Fonseka
Succeeded by	Tyronne Fernando
Personal details
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Spouse	Srimathi (m. 1975; d. 2002)
Children	Two children
Alma mater	S. Thomas' College, Colombo
Military service
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Branch/service	Sri Lanka Army
Years of service	19?? - 1998
Rank	Major general
Unit	Sri Lanka Light Infantry
Commands	Security Forces Headquarters - Jaffna Overall Operational Commander
Battles/wars	Sri Lankan Civil War

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.[1] Jayawardena also served as Security Forces Commander in Jaffna.

Political career

Retiring from the Sri Lanka Army in 1998, Jayawardena was appointed 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.[2]

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).[3]

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

References

1. "New SLA commander assumes duties". TamilNet. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
2. "Asoka tipped to be new Defence Secretary". The Island. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
3. "History of Governors". Governors of the Northern Provincial Council. Northern Provincial Council. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012.

External links

• Governors of the Northern Provincial Council - History of Governors
• Sri Lankan Provinces from 1988

Military offices
Preceded by ?	Overall Operations Commander ?	Succeeded by Lt. Gen. Srilal Weerasooriya
Political offices
Preceded by Gamini Fonseka	Governor of North Eastern Province 1998–2004	Succeeded by Tyronne Fernando