Maj. Gen. Udaya Bandula Nanayakkara appointed new Chair
Urban Development Authority (UDA) Chairman Harshan De Silva has resigned as On’ally Holdings Chairman with effect from 19 July 2021.As of late last year, the UDA was the largest minority shareholder at On’ally Holdings. Replacing De Silva, Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Vidanage Udaya Bandula Nanayakkara has been appointed from 20 July.Maj. Gen. Nanayakkara served in the Sri Lanka Army as an officer and a military engineer. He was the former Army Chief Field Engineer, 552 Infantry Brigade – Jaffna Brigade Commander, and 214 Infantry Brigade – Mannar Brigade Commander. He was also the former Military Spokesman, Director of Media, Director of Psychological Operations, and Area Commander of the Central Province.Educated at Royal College, Colombo, after completing his education, he joined the Sri Lanka Army in 1981 as an Officer Cadet. Following basic training at the Sri Lanka Military Academy, he was commissioned into the Sri Lanka Engineers as a Second Lieutenant. He is a graduate of the College of Defence Management in India and the National Defence University in Pakistan.Maj. Gen. Nanayakkara was the first Project Director of the Defence Headquarters Complex Project in Akuregoda, Pelawatta. He held the prestigious appointment of Colonel Commandant Corps of Engineers and is decorated with Vishishta Seva Vibushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP), the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, the Purna Bhumi Padakkama, the North and East Operations Medal, and the 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal.Following his retirement from the Army, he served in the private sector as a Director/General Manager and as the Director General of the Urban Settlement Development Authority of Sri Lanka (USDA). He was appointed as Chairman of the UDA on 14 July 2021.
