Navy Chief of Staff retires

COLOMBO: Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral SP Weerasekara RWP, USP, ndc, psc, DISS, MA (BS), MRIN, MIN retired from the service in the Sri Lanka Navy on October 29 after 35 years of service. He was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Navy on 16th July 2006.

Rear Admiral SP Weerasekara joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet on 1st August 1971 after his school education at Ananda College, Colombo. He was commissioned in the Sri Lanka Navy on 1st August 1975 as a Sub Lieutenant after training as an Officer Cadet and Midshipman.

He had been promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain, Commodore and Rear Admiral on 25th January 1976, 25th January 1984, 01st September 1988, 01st October 1993, 01st February 1997, 01st January 2002 respectively.

During his tenure in the Navy he has held, other than the post of Chief of Staff, the posts of Deputy Chief of Staff, Director General (Operations), Director General Services, Director Naval Welfare and Administration, Commander of the Northern, Eastern and Southern Naval Areas, Squadron Commander Fast Attack Craft Flotilla and Commander of the Surveillance Vessel SLNS Edithara.

He had been awarded the Ranawickrama Padakkama, Uttama Seva Padakkama, North and East Operational Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal among others.