Anton Muttukumaru
The dignified soldier who broke a colonial barrier, becoming the first Ceylonese commander of his nation's army after independence.
1908–2001 (age 93)·Birthday: July 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Anton Muttukumaru's career mirrored Ceylon's transition from British colony to independent nation. Commissioned into the Ceylon Defence Force in 1930, he served with distinction in the British Army during World War II, seeing action in the North African campaign. After the war, as Ceylon moved towards self-rule, his experience and seniority positioned him as the natural choice to lead a national military. In 1955, he was appointed Commander of the Ceylon Army, the first Ceylonese officer to hold the post. His tenure focused on professionalizing the force and establishing its identity separate from its British roots. Following his military service, he smoothly transitioned to diplomacy, serving as High Commissioner to several nations. Muttukumaru's quiet competence and pioneering role made him a foundational figure in Sri Lanka's post-independence institutions, embodying the transfer of authority from colonial hands to local leadership.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Anton was born in 1908, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1908
Anton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1908Born
Ford Model T goes into production
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1913Started school
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1921Became a teenager
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1924Could drive
First Winter Olympics held in Chamonix, France
President: Calvin Coolidge"It Had to Be You" — Isham Jones
1926Could vote
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1929Turned 21
Wall Street crashes, triggering the Great Depression
Gas: $0.21/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Singin' in the Rain" — Cliff EdwardsBest Picture: The Broadway Melody
1938Turned 30
Kristallnacht and the escalation toward WWII
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $2,850Min wage: $0.25/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Begin the Beguine" — Artie ShawBest Picture: You Can't Take It with You
1948Turned 40
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 50
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 60
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 70
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 80
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
2001Died at 93
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
Key Achievements
- Appointed as the first Ceylonese Commander of the Ceylon Army in 1955, leading its post-independence development.
- Served as Ceylon's High Commissioner to Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan concurrently in the early 1960s.
- Saw active service as an artillery officer with the British Army in the North African desert during World War II.
- Played a key role in establishing the professional ethos and structure of the newly sovereign Ceylon Army.
Did You Know?
He was the first Ceylonese officer to attend the prestigious Staff College at Camberley in England.
Before his army command, he served as the first Ceylonese Commandant of the Army Training Centre in Diyatalawa.
He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (ED) for his long service in the military.
After his diplomatic postings, he returned to Sri Lanka and served on several corporate boards.
“A nation's strength lies in its unity, not in its divisions.”
