Field marshal (Sri Lanka)

Common military ranks in English
Navies	Armies	Air forces
Commissioned officers
Admiral of the fleet	Marshal or Field marshal	Marshal of the air force
Admiral	General	Air chief marshal
Vice admiral	Lieutenant general	Air marshal
Rear admiral	Major general	Air vice-marshal
Commodore	Brigadier or Brigadier general	Air commodore
Captain	Colonel	Group captain
Commander	Lieutenant colonel	Wing commander
Lieutenant commander	Major or Commandant	Squadron leader
Lieutenant	Captain	Flight lieutenant
Sub-lieutenant	Lieutenant or First lieutenant	Flying officer
Ensign	Second lieutenant	Pilot officer
Midshipman	Officer cadet	Officer cadet
Enlisted grades
Warrant officer or Chief petty officer	Warrant officer or Sergeant major	Warrant officer
Petty officer	Sergeant	Sergeant
Leading seaman	Corporal	Corporal
Seaman	Private	Aircraftman

Field Marshal (FM) is a five star General officer rank and the highest attainable rank in the Sri Lanka Army. Field Marshal is ranked immediately above General and is largely a ceremonial rank, having been awarded only once. It is equivalent to an Admiral of the Fleet or a Marshal of the Air Force.^[1]

Field marshals remain officers of the Sri Lankan Army for life, with a personal staff and security detail. In the order of precedence the rank holder is equivalent to a cabinet minister.^[2]

Insignia of rank

A Field Marshal's insignia consists of the National emblem over a crossed baton and saber in a lotus blossom wreath. On appointment, Field marshals are awarded a Gold-tipped baton which they may carry on formal occasions and a personal flag.^[3][4]

List of Field Marshals

Sarath Fonseka is the first Sri Lankan Army officer to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal on 22 March 2015. His distinguished military career spanned four decades. Fonseka rose to be the Commander of Sri Lankan Army in 2005 and under his command, Sri Lankan forces conducted victorious campaigns against the LTTE ending the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009.^[5][6][7] He has been described as one of the best commanders in the world.^[8][9] The decisive result achieved by the Sri Lankan Army during this war under the extraordinary leadership of Fonseka followed by the political victimization by President Mahinda Rajapaksa, led to his successor President Maithripala Sirisena promoting him to the newly created rank of Field Marshal in March 2015.^{[9][10][11][12][13]}

References

1. "Nation Salutes War Veteran, General Sarath Fonseka (Retd) Conferring Field Marshal Rank". army.lk. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
2. Gen. GSC Fonseka elevated to the rank of 'Field Marshal', Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 29 March 2015
3. "All Ranks, Privileges & Pension Restored for General (Retd) Sarath Fonseka". defence.lk. Retrieved 2015-03-22.
4. What makes a Field Marshal, Ramesh Irugalbandara, newsfirst.lk, Retrieved 5 April 2015
5. Sarath Fonseka becomes Lanka’s first field marshal - The Times of India, Retrieved 29 March 2015
6. Fonseka to become first Sri Lankan Field Marshal, Khaleej Times (UAE), Retrieved 29 March 2015
7. General Sarath Fonseka reveals untold story of Eelam War IV, By Malik Gunatilleke, Daily FT, Retrieved 21 March 2015
8. Mehta, Maj. Gen. (Retd) Raj K. Lost Victory: The Rise & Fall of LTTE Supremo, V. Prabhakaran. Pentagon Press. pp. 13, 118, 330–338, 360–8, 377, 380, 401–11. ISBN 978-8182744431.
9. Prosecuting and persecuting the war hero – General Fonseka, By Somar Wijayadasa, The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka), Retrieved 29 March 2015
10. Ex-army chief Sarath Fonseka, jailed for treason, made field marshal in Sri Lanka, The Guardian, Retrieved 29 March 2015
11. Sri Lanka promotes former general who defeated Tigers to field marshal, by Shihar Aneez, Reuters, Retrieved 31 March 2015
12. Armed Force Commanders promoted to next higher ranks. Ministry of Defence, Retrieved on 18 May 2009
13. Former Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka in military custody, Media Center for National Security