Meet Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake: Sri Lankan Officer Pips His Son at Indian Military Academy

In a heartwarming moment of pride and legacy, Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of the Sri Lanka Army had the honour of pipping his son, Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, as he was commissioned as an officer in the Sri Lanka Army at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. The ceremonial occasion marked not just a personal milestone for the Rathnayake family but also underscored the enduring defence cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.

The pipping ceremony, where insignias of rank are formally placed on the newly commissioned officer’s uniform, is a cherished tradition that symbolises the transition from cadet to commissioned officer. For the Rathnayakes, this tradition became a generational passage of honour — from father to son — reinforcing the values of service, discipline, and dedication.

With RMNL Rathnayake's commissioning, the total number of Sri Lankan Army officers trained and commissioned from IMA has now reached 296. This milestone reflects the Indian Army’s steadfast commitment to fostering defence partnerships with friendly foreign nations and its pivotal role in training foreign cadets from across the globe.

The Indian Military Academy remains one of the premier military institutions, known for its rigorous training and shaping of officer cadets from India and friendly nations into future military leaders. The participation of foreign cadets like RMNL Rathnayake exemplifies the trust and goodwill shared between India and its partners, with Sri Lanka being a close and consistent collaborator.

This touching father-son moment at IMA not only celebrates personal achievement but also the shared military traditions and values that bind India and Sri Lanka in strategic friendship and regional security cooperation.