Former DIGs pass away

Retired Deputy Inspector General of Police Daya Jayasundera passed away on January 03 and the funeral will be held at the General Cemetery Kanatte today.

Born on January 28, 1944 to a family of four, Jayasundera excelled in academic studies and sports at his alma mater - Dharmaraja College, Kandy.

He joined the Police Department on July 10 , 1968 as a Sub Inspector. He was promoted to the rank of Inspector when he was serving in the State Intelligence Bureau in 1976. He served in a number of police stations such as Ambalangoda, Panadura, Wellawatta and Seeduwa.

Jayasundera who was promoted to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police in 1983, was among the first ASPs who steered the Special Task Force in annihilating terrorism.

Jayasundera was appointed Deputy Inspector General of Police in 1999. He retired from the Police department in 2004.

He had excelled in hockey and in many other sports during his schooling and in the police service. He was the brother of Deputy Inspector General Sarath Jayasundera and Major General Gamini Jayasundera.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Inspector of General of police (DIG) Ananda Lewangama who retired from service after a period of 38 years, passed away yesterday. The funeral will take place on January 8 at his residence in Lewangama in Homagama with full police honours.

Lewangama, an old boy of Ananda College, Colombo, joined the police service as a Sub Inspector (SI) in 1970 and was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Police in 1978.

After working as Officer-In-Charge (OIC) at a number of police stations including Bulathkohupitiya, Mirigama, Nittambuwa and Modara, he was elevated to the post of ASP in 1991. He was later attached to the Crime Investigations Division (CID) and Intelligence Unit until promoted to SP in 1991.

In 1996, he was promoted to the rank of SSP and was posted to Jaffna, Ampara and Kantale during LTTE terrorism. He was the Officer-In-Charge of the Intelligence Unit of the Sri Lanka Police and as an appreciation to his immense contribution to the country, he was promoted DIG in 2004.

A father of two, Lewangama retired from the service in 2008.