Inside Sri Lanka's SECRET Special Forces Unit (LRRP) | Colonel Raj Vijayasiri

This episode is sponsored by LEVERAGE The first of its kind in Sri Lanka. Leverage works with companies through live simulations that reveal how your teams think, lead, and perform under pressure, then turn that insight into strategic advantage. 📩 If you're a manager, business owner, or team lead, email [email protected] with the word "LEVERAGE" to arrange a FREE pilot workshop for your company. About the Episode Colonel Raj Vijayasiri | Special Forces, LRRP & the Corporate Jungle Former Sri Lanka Army Special Forces Brigade Commander and first Commanding Officer of the 2nd Special Forces Regiment, Colonel Raj Vijayasiri, joins Shanil Dutta for a raw and revealing conversation. From surviving a gunshot through the neck and lung on the battlefield to coaching 700 corporate leaders, Raj shares what war, leadership, discipline, and mindset really look like, and what the corporate world can learn from the jungle. ⏱ Chapters 0:00:00 – Cold Open: Shot through the neck 0:00:08 – Introduction: Colonel Raj's military career 0:00:43 – The success and secrecy of LRRP missions 0:01:13 – The impact of the Shankar mission on the LTTE 0:01:26 – Transition to corporate coaching 0:02:22 – Origins of the Sri Lanka Army Special Forces 0:05:30 – Adapting from armor units to Special Forces 0:12:55 – Proposing the Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol (LRRP) concept 0:16:18 – Overcoming operational challenges (medical, comms, extraction) 0:19:12 – The impact of battlefield losses on team cohesion 0:26:38 – Establishing the LRRP selection and training course 0:29:40 – Advanced skill sets for operators (navigation, medicine, explosives) 0:32:16 – Innovation in camouflage and survival techniques 0:36:01 – The mission that killed LTTE leader Shankar 0:52:44 – Debunking the Millennium City connection 1:11:12 – Future warfare: Technology, AI, and intelligence tradecraft 1:19:08 – Political interference and military leadership 1:22:51 – The Special Forces mindset: Is courage built or born? 1:30:25 – Corporate culture in Sri Lanka vs. military discipline 1:36:43 – Coaching, mentorship, and power distance in the workplace 1:48:15 – Reflections on national leadership and human potential 1:54:37 – Transitioning from military to the 'corporate jungle' 1:59:05 – Anxiety, mindfulness, and the importance of the present moment 2:06:53 – Practical meditation for performance and resilience 2:10:04 – Overcoming self-doubt and tapping into hidden capacity 📺 Subscribe for new episodes every Tuesday!