31st December 2019 16:33:44 Hours
On 30 December 2019, revitalizing an age-old military tradition again, Tri Service Commanders and Senior Officers jointly hosted a farewell dinner in honour of the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne at Hotel Kingsbury, in which the service of the CDS was hailed and awarded accolades.
The outgoing CDS and his spouse on arrival were welcomed at the venue by Tri Service Commanders and spouses at the entrance to the Hotel. Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva raised the toast and made the laudatory speech to the occasion, in which he paid a glowing tribute to the service of the CDS as a dedicated master mariner cum a War Hero who did his best to the country when it was threatened with ferocious terrorism. He also heaped praise on him for the manner he conducted affairs by closely coordinating all three services.
“Admiral Wijegunaratne has been awarded with four distinguished medals for his acts of gallantry, valour and conspicuous bravery in the face of the enemy that included Weerodhara Vibushanaya', 'Rana Wickrama Padakkama' and Rana Sura Padakkama'. He is also widely known as an expert in "Asymmetric Naval Warfare" and "Small Boat Operations,” the Army Chief told the gathering.
He earned his BSc (Hons) degree in War Studies from the Karachi University, Pakistan in 1996 and MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies (First Class pass) from the University of Madras, India in 2010.He was an outstanding sportsman and has won Navy Colours for Rugby Football, Sailing, and Rowing. He is a top marksman and a Golfer who introduced the game of Golf to Sri Lanka Navy. He commanded the Sri Lanka Navy Flag Ship SLNS Sayura and held diverse key appointments such as First Secretary and Defence Adviser of the Sri Lanka High Commission in India, Commandant Naval & Maritime Academy, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Director Naval Special Forces, Director Maritime Surveillance and Director Naval Operations when last Four LTTE Floating Armories were destroyed in international waters during 2006/2007, Director General Services, Commander of Southern, Western, Northern, and Eastern Naval Areas, Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard and Chief of Staff.
He was appointed as the Commander of the Navy on 11th July 2015 and appointed as the Chief of Defence Staff on 22nd August 2017. As the Commander of the Navy he raised two battalions of the Sri Lanka Navy Marines with the support of the US Marines in 2015.
The day's farewell treat reached its climax with presentation of mementos to the day's protagonist and delivery of the outgoing CDS' thanks speech to the occasion. Spouses of Tri Service Officers and a representative gathering were there to bid him farewell. Running Sneakers | Jordan Release Dates , Iicf
