Major General Y. Balaretnarajah, VSV, USP, ndc is a retired Sri Lankan army officer.

Joining the Ceylon Army in November 1959 and he received his basic officer training at Sandhurst.

After completion of basic officer training, Balaretnarajah was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Ceylon Armoured Corps on December 21, 1961.

He served as a troop leader of the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment, officer instructor at the Army Training Centre, Diyatalawa and a staff officer at the Army Headquarters and Northern Command Headquarters during the 1971 Insurrection before returning to the 1st Reconnaissance Regiment as a squadron commander with the rank of captain.

Balaretnarajah was married to Sarojini (née Somasundaram), and had three children- Anusha, Arjuna and Brahman.