In 1974, then commander of the army,
Sepala Attygalle was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general. Since then all army commanders retired with the rank of lieutenant-general and
Tissa Weeratunga and
Cyril Ranatunga served as general officer commanding, Joint Operations Command with the rank of lieutenant-general. Ranatunga was appointed directly to the rank of lieutenant-general, without holding the rank of major-general having been recalled from retirement. Since 1986, the serving commander of the army held the rank of lieutenant-general. Since 1991, it became customary for all commanders of the army to be promoted to the rank of
general on the final day of service if they were retiring or appointed as Chief of the Defence Staff. In 2007, two former commanders of the army were also promoted to the rank of general. In addition to officers appointed as Army Commander or GOC, Joint Operations Command; four officers of the rank of
major general have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant general; three of these have been promoted posthumously as these officers either had been killed in action or assassinated. == Notable Lieutenant Generals ==