Sri Lanka Navy’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations

Having rendered a distinguished service spanning six decades to the nation, the Sri Lanka Navy proudly celebrates its 60th anniversary tomorrow (December 9) marking yet another milestone in the country’s history. Second part of this article was published yesterday

Special correspondent

The Navy is making a tremendous contribution to the country’s economy, its development and the tourism industry through the utilization of the Jetliner, which was engaged in the transportation of tri-forces and Police personnel and civilians between Jaffna and Trincomalee during the war, for conventions, weddings and parties of various institutions and clients and it has now been converted as a luxurious passenger vessel of international standards which generates a huge income for the national economy.

Rear Admiral D B Goonesekara	Rear Admiral A W H Perera	Vice Admiral A H A De Silva	Admiral H A Silva	Admiral W W E C Fernando	Admiral D A M R Samarasekara

The Sri Lanka Navy is making a tremendous contribution to the constructions of houses for war heroes and renovations of roads destroyed by terrorists. It was through the Navy’s contribution that the road between Puttlam and Mannar is now open for public transportation.

Boat service

After the launch of a boat service along the Kirulapona Canal, in accordance with the concept of the Defence Secretary for the utilization of canals and waterways in Colombo and its suburbs for public transportation and recreation and making them environmentally clean, the Navy is making steps to expand the boat service to other canals as well. The Navy is entrusted with establishing diplomatic relations in keeping with Naval traditions. With the dawn of peace, the Navy is engaged in enhancing diplomatic relations as a contribution to the national development.

The number of vessels belonging to foreign Navies that arrived on goodwill visits last year clearly proves how productive this contribution has been.

Vice Admiral H C A C Thisera	Admiral D W K Sandagiri	Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda

Participation by the Commander of the Navy in a number of international maritime symposiums on invitation, the success of the ‘Galle Dialogue’, held in Galle in accordance with a concept of the Defence Secretary, with the attendance of naval and maritime experts from 11 countries, the international naval and maritime symposium scheduled to be held with the participation of commanders of foreign Navies arriving to attend the Navy’s 60th anniversary celebrations and the number of ships that will line up in the seas off Galle Face Green for the President’s review are some of the notable instances which proudly herald that the Sri Lanka Navy is now entering the international level turning a new leaf in our history.

Having such a noble vision as its guiding force and the concept of serving the Motherland as its first, second and third foremost duty in mind and filled with honesty, discipline, integrity and professionalism, dedicated to the protection of the country, Sri Lanka Navy, the silent service of the mighty blue ocean, celebrates its 60th anniversary with great pride.

Concluded

Past Navy Commanders

1. Captain W G Beauchamp, VRD, CBE (Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve)

- From 01.2.1938 to 31.3.1946

2. Captain W E Banks, CBE (Royal Navy) - From 02.12.1950 to 25.11.1951

3. Captain J R S Brown (Royal Navy) - From 26.11.1951 to 14.06.1953

4. Commodore P M B Chavasse, DSC (Royal Navy) - From 15.06.1953 to 07.11.1955

5. Rear Admiral G R M De Mel, OBE (Royal Ceylon Navy) - From 08.15.1955 to 15.11.1960

6. Rear Admiral R Kadiragamar, MVO (Royal Ceylon Navy) - From 16.11.1960 to 01.07.1970

7. Rear Admiral D V Hunter (Sri Lanka Navy) - From 02.07.1970 - 31.03.1973

8. Rear Admiral D B Goonesekara, ndc, psc (Sri Lanka Navy) - From 01.04.1973 to 31.05.1979

9. Rear Admiral A W H Perera, VSV, ndc, psc (Sri Lanka Navy) - From 01.06.1979 to 31.05.1983

10. Vice Admiral A.H.A De Silva, VSV, ndc, psc (Sri Lanka Navy) - From 01.06.1983 to 31.10.1986

11. Admiral H A Silva, VSV, ndc, psc (Sri Lanka Navy) - From 01.11.1986 to 31.10.1991

12. Admiral W W E C Fernando ndc, psc, VSV (Sri Lanka Navy) - From 01.11.1991 to 16.11.1992

13. Admiral D A M R Samarasekara VSV USP, ndc, psc (Sri Lanka Navy) -From 16.11.1992 to 27.11.1997

14. Vice Admiral H C A C Thisera, VSV, USP, ndc (Sri Lanka Navy) - From 28.01.1997 to 31.12.2000

15. Admiral D W K Sandagiri, VSV, USP, rcds, MSc, psc, FCMI, MNI (Sri Lanka Navy)

- From 01.01.2001 to 31.08.2005

16. Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda RSP, VSV, USP, MBA, MSc, ndc, psc, DISS, MRIN, MNI

(Sri Lanka Navy) - From 01.09.2005 to 15.07.2009