New Sri Lanka Coast Guard Director General

Ridma Dissanayake

Rear Admiral Ravindra (Ravi) Wijegunaratne who was the former Commander of the Eastern Naval Command assumed duties as the new Director General of Sri Lanka Coast Guard, yesterday.

Rear Admiral Wijegunaratne studied at Royal College and joined the Sri Lanka Navy as a Cadet Officer in 1980 at the age of 18 years. He underwent his basic training at the Naval & Maritime Academy, Trincomalee and at the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) Dartmouth, UK.

Rear Admiral Ravindra (Ravi) Wijegunaratne

He was the recipient of the "Best International Midshipman" awarded at the BRNC Dartmouth in year 1982. He commanded a number of Patrol and Fast Attack Craft in the Sri Lanka Navy and his last Sea Command was SLNS Sayura (Offshore Patrol Vessel), the Flag Ship of the Sri Lanka Navy. The other key appointments he has held during his naval career are the Commandant Naval & Maritime Academy, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Director General (Services), Director Naval Operations/Special Forces/Maritime Surveillance when the last four (04) floating warehouses of LTTE were destroyed in year 2007, Commander Southern Naval Area, Commander Western Naval Area and Commander Northern Naval Area.

Rear Admiral Wijegunaratne is a qualified diver, parachute jumper and the senior most Special Forces naval officer who was instrumental in forming the Sri Lanka Navy's Special Force element known as the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) which contributed immensely during the conflict period.

He commanded this elite unit twice in his career and has led number of SBS operations behind the enemy lines and amphibious operations; including famous 'Poonaryn Operation' in 1993.

He also fought alongside the Indian Navy Marine Commandos (MARCOS) during 'Operation Pawan' in Jaffna Lagoon area in 1987. He has also led SBS teams for a number of joint exercises with the US Navy SEALs and the Indian Navy MARCOS in Sri Lanka and abroad.

He sustained serious injuries and broke both legs as a result of a parachute jump accident in year 2000 and recovered back strongly with his sheer determination.

He was the first Secretary and the Defence Adviser of Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi, India and his contribution in planning and coordinating the Indian Navy disaster relief operations during the Boxing Day Tsunami disaster was commended by the Indian and Sri Lankan governments.

Rear Admiral Wijegunaratne is a highly decorated senior naval officer with four gallantry medals for his act of bravery and valor for fighting against the LTTE terrorists. He is a recipient of Weerodhara Vibushanaya, Rana Sura Medal and Rana Wickrama Medal awarded twice.

He is a keen sportsman who represented Sri Lanka Navy in Rugby Football for twelve consecutive years and a recipient of the Sri Lanka Navy Colors for sailing, Rowing and Rugby Football. He also held the Chairmanship of the Sri Lanka Rifle Association and is the present Chairman of the Sri Lanka Navy Golf Club.