Major General K V N P Premaratne has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army. He joined the Sri Lanka Army as an Officer Cadet in 1990. Following his training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy in Diyatalawa, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1992 and joined the Sri Lanka Artillery as a Gunner Officer. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff, he served as Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force. Throughout his military career, he has held several key appointments, including Battery Commander of the 6th Field Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery, Instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Brigade Major of the 211 Infantry Brigade, General Staff Officer (Operations) at Army Headquarters, Military Assistant to the Commander of the Army, Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff, Commanding Officer of the 16th Regiment Sri Lanka Artillery, Chief Instructor at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, Commander of the 551 Infantry Brigade, Director of Media and Military Spokesman of the Army, General Officer Commanding of the 23 Infantry Division, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Chief of Defence Staff, Security Forces Commander (East) and Adjutant General of the Sri Lanka Army. He has also served as a Military Observer with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara. 

He holds a Master of Arts degree in Security Studies specialising in Counterterrorism Policy and Strategy from the Naval Postgraduate School in California, United States, and a Master of Defence Studies degree from the University of Kelaniya. His professional military education includes training in Sri Lanka, China, Pakistan and India. 

A recipient of the Rana Sura Padakkama on two occasions and the Utthama Seva Padakkama, Major General Premaratne is also the author of the book, "The Impact of Changing External Conditions on Counter Insurgency: The Sri Lankan Experience."