Tuan Nizam Muthaliff

Colonel Tuan Nizam Muthaliff RWP, MI (July 12, 1966 – May 31, 2005) (O/60727) was the former Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion Military Intelligence Corps.(MIC)

Background
Born in to a Malay family in Sri Lanka, Muthaliff had his education at D.S. Senanayake College, Colombo. At school, he excelled in both studies and sports alike.

Major Muthaliff was married to Major Kumudini Muthaliff Amarasinghe, Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Army Women's Corps and has a daughter, Sarah and son, Maalik.

Career
On conclusion of his studies, his desire to protect the unity of his motherland made him join the Sri Lanka Army as a cadet officer in June 1986. He first underwent training in the Military Academy of Diyatalawa and subsequently received a Cadet Officers' Training at the Pakistan Military Academy. Following this training, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 4th Gemunu Regiment of the Sri Lanka Army. His commitment and dedication to the service were rewarded when he was promoted as a Lieutenant on June 2, 1989. While gaining experience in the Sri Lanka Army, since 1990 he was constantly attached to the Military Intelligence Unit for the Join Operation Command. He was promoted to the rank of Captain on July 2, 1992 and afterwards as a Major on July 2, 1995. During that time he had worked as General Staff Officer (GSO) III (Intelligence) at Army Headquarters, Officer Commanding in the MIC training section, Group Commander Intelligence Security Group in Jaffna for about three and half years, Group Commander at the Directorate of Military Intelligence in Colombo for about three years since 1997 and General Staff Officer (GSO) I (Intelligence), Vavuniya from 2000 to 2001. He became the Commanding Officer of Sri Lanka's first Military Intelligence Unit in November 2004. At the time of death he was also Director of the Colombo Cell.

In addition he has followed several courses overseas with distinction such as the Intelligence Staff Course - Bangladesh, Counter Intelligence Course - Bangladesh, Junior Command Course - India, South Asian Peace Keeping Course - Hawaii, USA and International Intelligence course - USA.

Death
Major Muthaliff was shot dead by LTTE gunmen at Polhengoda, Colombo when he was on his way to the Kotelawala Defence Academy on May 31, 2005. In recognition of his service to the army, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel on 1 May 2005 and then he was promoted as a Colonel on 31 May 2005.

Awards and decorations
His gallantry in the battlefield and also through his work in intelligence earned him several awards including the Rana Wickrama Padakkama. He also received the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, Operation Wadamarachchi Medal, Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, and 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal for his service during the course of his military career.