Balthazar joined the newly formed
Ceylon Army, received his basic officer training at the
Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant and posted to the
Ceylon Light Infantry. In 1961, Captain Balthazar lead the second Ceylon Army peace keeping contingent to the
United Nations Operation in the Congo. In May 1962, Captain Balthazar along with Captain
T. I. Weeratunga were transferred to the newly formed
Gemunu Watch and served as the
adjutant of the 1st Battalion. From 1969 to 1970, Major Balthazar served as an
Extra ADC to
William Gopallawa,
Governor-General of Ceylon. Major Balthazar served with the Gemunu Watch in the
1971 Insurrection and in January 1973 was appointed
commanding officer of the 1st Battalion, Gemunu Watch having been promoted to the rank of
lieutenant colonel. He was an active athlete, competing in Putt Shot,
Discus Throw and
Javelin at regimental, Defence Services and National Champions. Following a military court of inquiry appointed by
Commander of the Army Major General Sepala Attygalle into a complaint against Lieutenant Colonel Balthazar by Major A. Hulangamuwa, he was asked to retire by the William Gopallawa,
President of Sri Lanka which he did in August 1973. Balthazar won defamation in the District Court against the complaint, but the judgement was overturned later in the appeal court in 1984 and confirmed in the supreme court in 1985. He was reinstated with the rank of
colonel and served as the principal staff officer to
Brigadier T. I. Weeratunga as he returned to
Jaffna in June 1981 as Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna to subdue the
Tamil militant groups operating there. In 1983, Balthazar took over as Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna with the rank of Brigadier. As Commander, Security Forces - Jaffna, he had the Army's Task Force 4 Northern and all armed forces units in the province under his command. He initiated military operations to subdue to Tamil militancy taking form in Jaffna in 1983. He was successful in killing Tamil militant leader
Charles Lucas Anthony aka Seelan on 15 July 1983. He attempted to raid Tamil militant leader Sellakili's hideout on 24 July 1983. However, Sellakili ambushed one of Balthazar's routine patrols
Four Four Bravo killing thirteen soldiers. This incident sparked the
Black July riots and is considered to be the start of the
Sri Lankan Civil War. He was succeeded by Brigadier
Nalin Seneviratne. He served as
Chief of Staff of the Army under General Seneviratne during the
Vadamarachchi Operation. Brigadier Balthazar had received the
Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal, the
Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, the
Purna Bhumi Padakkama and the
United Nations Medal for service in the
ONUC. ==Family==