Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera to take over command of Sri Lanka Navy
By Ranil Wijayapala
The Sri Lanka Navy in its illustrious history which spans over 63
years will get its 19th commander on July 1, 2014 as President Mahinda
Rajapaksa has appointed Rear Admiral Jayantha Perera to this prestigious
post after promoting him to the rank of Vice Admiral with effect from
July 1, 2014. He will succeed the 18th commander of the Navy, Vice
Admiral Jayanath Colombage who is retiring from the Sri Lanka Navy after
being promoted to the rank of Admiral.
Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera, RWP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc is due to take
over the command of the Sri Lanka Navy after the outgoing Navy Commander
officially hands over the Naval Sword to the newly appointed commander
at a ceremony to be held at the Navy headquarters on July 1.
Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera is the fourth Navy officer to command
the Sri Lanka Navy in post- conflict Sri Lanka after making their
invaluable contribution in defeating the world's only terror outfit
armed with maritime capabilities after holding key positions in the
Navy.
Prior to being made the Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera
held the post of Chief of Staff of the Navy after assuming duties on
July 5, 2013.
He is due to take over the command of the Sri Lanka Navy at a time
when it is reshaping into a classic role of defending nation’s maritime
interest from internal and external threats and to make its contribution
towards country's development challenges in its march to make Sri Lanka
the wonder of Asia.
The successive commanders of the Sri Lanka Navy in the post conflict
Sri Lanka, starting from Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Admiral
Somathilaka Dissanayake and the outgoing commander Admiral Jayanath
Colombage made their contribution to reshape the Navy into its classic
role providing the much required professional training, training
facilities and infrastructure and the academic background to the Navy
personnel making them real professionals in their Naval career.
Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera, a capable and matured Navy officer to
be appointed to this prestigious post will also follow the path of his
predecessors to make Sri Lanka Navy a world recognised professional Navy
adding feathers into their caps as the most experienced navy personnel
in the world in defeating a terror outfit in an asymmetric warfare.
To reach this prestigious post in the Navy Vice Admiral Jayantha
Perera joined the Sri Lanka Navy on 23rd August 1978 and underwent his
basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee.
A Gunnery Specialist trained at the Gunnery School Cochin in India.
He followed a Naval Staff Course in India and National Defence Course at
the National Defence University Islamabad, Pakistan.
He holds Master of Science Degres in Defence Studies and Defence and
Strategic Studies from the University of Madras, India and the National
Defence University, Pakistan.
He also followed the International Disaster Management Course
andWorkshop in the United Kingdom in May 2005 and the Combined Force
Maritime Component Commander Course conducted by the United States Naval
War College, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii in February 2012.
Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera has commanded various ships in the Sri
Lanka Navy including the Sri Lanka Navy Flag Ship SLNS Sayura
(Commissioning Commanding Officer from the Indian Navy), Fast Gun Boats
and Landing Craft.
He was the Commander Western Naval Area in 2008, Commander Southern
Naval Area in 2007 and Deputy Area Commander Eastern Naval Area during
the humanitarian operation in 2006. He has held many important staff
appointments, which include Director General Operations, Director
General Services, Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Fleet, Director
Naval Operations and Special Force, Director Naval Weapon, Deputy
Director Naval Intelligence, Deputy Director Naval Training, Media
Spokesman of the Sri Lanka Navy and Principal Staff Officer to the Chief
of Defence Staff.
Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera is a recipient of the Rana Wikrama
Padakkama for gallantry. He has also been decorated for distinguished
service and received many Commendations from the Commander of the Navy
for outstanding performance of duty and exceptional contributions to the
naval service.
Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera is married to Shalika, who gives much
needed strength and support to his naval career and they are blessed
with two daughters, Ranithri and Ranali (twins). Both daughters have
graduated from the Bangalore University, India in Business Management
and they hold Masters Degrees in International Trade and Logistics from
the Post Graduate Institute of Management, Sri Lanka.
Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera is a distinguished past pupil of
Thurstan College, Colombo. Meanwhile, the outgoing Navy Commander,
Admiral Jayanath Colombage who promoted professionalism in the Navy and
also improved the academic background of Navy personnel will continue to
serve as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Shipping Corporation to make his
contribution as an experienced Naval officer towards the improvement of
the shipping industry in the country.
Admiral Jayanath Colombage, retires from the Navy after completing 36
years of service in the Sri Lanka Navy. |