Avoiding a political career, he joined George Steuart Group after completing school and thereafter joined the volunteer force of the Ceylon Army and following training at the Volunteer Force Training Centre he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 2nd (V) Ceylon Light Infantry in 1956.

He was mobilized for internal security duties and commanded light infantry troops in Panadura during the 1958 Riots.

[2] Leaving the country shortly thereafter, he spent time as a Buddhist monk in Thailand for three years before migrating to Australia where he worked as a mechanic, even after his father was elected Prime Minister.

With the escalation of the Sri Lankan Civil War, with concerns over the presidential security, he formed the elite Special Task Force.

He assisted Lalith Athulathmudali, Minister of National Security, in the formation of the Sri Lankan Home Guard to defend border villages that were consistently attacked by the LTTE.