Lieutenant general (abbreviated as Lt. Gen.; Sinhala: ලුතිනන් ජෙනරාල්, romanized: Lutinan Jenaral) is the second-highest rank of the Sri Lanka Army and generally it is the highest active rank as the Sri Lanka army do not have any appointment in the rank of full general but in the case of the appointment of Chief of Defence Staff, the rank of full general is given (if the chief is appointed from the army and not from the navy or the air force).

The Gorget patches of the Lieutenant General officer pattern, three gold/silver stars on scarlet background with a gold/silver button; worn on Dress No 2A, 4, 5, 5A, 6, 6A, 6B, 7 and 8.

The Gorget patches of the General Officers Large/Medium patterns, of gold colour braided (bullion wire) three oak leaves on scarlet background with a gold button, worn by the officers in the rank of major general and above for Dress No1, No 3 and 3A.

[2] In 1974, then commander of the army, Sepala Attygalle was promoted to 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.