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.