T. S. B. Sally
| Tuan Samayraan Buhary Sally | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Tacky |
| Born |
March 18, 1924 Kandy, Sri Lanka |
| Died |
August 3, 2012 (aged 88) Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| Allegiance |
 Sri Lanka |
| Service/branch | Sri Lanka Army |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Unit | Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment |
| Commands held | Chief of Staff, Sri Lanka Army |
| Battles/wars |
World War II, 1971 Insurrection |
| Awards | Several awards and medals. |
Brigadier Tuan Samayraan Buhary Sally, SLSR was a Sri Lankan military leader, he was the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army and was the First Malay and Muslim in the country to reach this rank and post.[1]
Born and educated in Kandy, Sally joined the Ceylon Defence Force during World War II in 1942 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 5th Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry. He specialized as a 3" mortar platoon commander and was demobilized after the war with the rank of Lieutenant. In 1947, he joined the Royal Military Police (Ceylon) serving in Singapore and Malaya. In 1948 he was promoted to Captain.
With the formation of the Ceylon Army he was commissioned as Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Ceylon Light Infantry in 1950. The year after he was sent to the British School of Infantry at Netheravon, UK. Participated in NATO manoeuvers with the British Army of the Rhine, Germany and on his return he was promoted to Captain, and appointed Adjutant of the Battalion in 1955.
He transferred to the newly raised Ceylon Sinha Regiment in 1956 and was appointed Company Commander in 1957. Having attended a Company Commander's course at the School of Infantry, Warminster UK, he was promoted to Major in 1961. Was posted to the Army Training Center, Diyatalawa in 1963, and made Acting Commander of 1st Battalion Gemunu Watch in 1965.
Attended a course in Tactics and Counter- Insurgency at Jungle Training Center, Canungra, Australia and promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and Acting Commanding Officer,1st Battalion Ceylon Light Infantry in 1967.
He was made the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion of the SriLanka Sinha Regiment in 1968, and was subsequently sent on a six months training course in Financial Management at the U.S. Army Finance School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, USA. and training in Personnel Management at the U.S. Army Adjutant General School, Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indianapolis, USA. Subsequently took up appointment at Army HQ Colombo.
Appointed extra Aide-de-Camp to HE President William Gopallawa and later HE President Mrs. Sirimavo Bandaranaike in 1972.Promoted to Colonel in 1974.
Promoted to Brigadier on 5 August 1977. Appointed Chief-of-Staff on 1 December 1977 until his retirement on 18 March 1979. He was acting Commander on two occasions on 18 February 1978, and 16 October 1978 and was the Last Officer from the Ceylon Defence Force to leave active service.
Medals received while at service.
For wartime service in World War II, he had earned the and theWar Medal 1939–1945]], and for service in the Ceylon Army, he received the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal, the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal, the Republic of Sri Lanka Army 25th Anniversary Medal, President's Inauguration Medal, and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal.
Positions held after retirement.
He was the First Secretary General of The SriLanka Malay Confederation (SLAMAC), Vice President/Patron- Colombo Malay Cricket Club, General Secretary- SriLanka Malay Association, President- SriLanka- Indonesia Friendship Association (SLIFA), Treasurer- SriLanka- Malaysia Friendship Association, Chairman- Welfare Grants Committee, SriLanka Ex-Servicemen's Association (SLESA), Representative Member (Defence)- Organisation of Professional Associations of SriLanka (OPA), Committee Member- SriLanka Malay Association Rupee Fund, President- Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers (ARFRO), President- Manning Lux Residencies.
Death
Brigadier sally was hospitalized, having received a stroke in June 2012, which left him disabled on the right side of his body, and was in bed throughout this time. He was visited by his family members and others everyday until his death on Friday the 3rd of August 2012 in Colombo. At the age of 88yrs, he was the oldest surviving Officer in The Armed Forces from WW11. He was given a Military funeral with Full Honours. Videos of him posted by his family members can be found online on Google/ YouTube.