Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, RSP and Bar, USP is a Sri Lankan admiral. He is the incumbent Commander of the Navy of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Naval career

Educated at

Royal College, Colombo Royal College, Colombo is a selective entry boys' school located in Cinnamon Gardens, Colombo, Sri Lanka. Started as a private school by Rev Joseph Marsh in 1835, it was established as the Colombo Academy by Sir Robert Wilmot-Horton in Janua ...

, Perera joined the Si Lanka Navy in the executive branch in 1987 as an Officer Cadet of the 5th intake of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in 1989 following his training at the General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University and

Naval and Maritime Academy Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee, is the naval academy of the Sri Lanka Navy, and is located within SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee. It received university status in 2001 under the leadership of Commodore SR Samaratunga. History The Sri ...

, Trincomalee. He completed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course at Naval and Maritime Academy in 1992 and specialized in Clearance Diving from the Indian Naval Diving Training School in 1994. He holds a Masters in Science Degree (Defence Studies) in Management from General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University and a Master’s Degree of Maritime Policy with Distinctions from University of Wollongong. He is a graduate of the US Naval War College, having passed the US Naval Staff Course in 2004 and the Defence and Strategic Studies Course at People's Liberation Army National Defence University in 2018. He become the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy on 18th December 2022, after being elevated him to the rank of three-star Admiral.

Honors

His decorations include Rana Sura Padakkama thrice for gallantry (with two Bars); Uttama Seva Padakkama for meritorious service. Other medals he has gained over the years include, the

Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal __NOTOC__ The Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal ( Sinhala: ශ්‍රී ලංකා සන්නද්ධ සේවා දීර්ඝ සේවා පදක්කම ''Śrī Laṃkā ārakśaka sēvā dhīrgha sēvā padakkama'') i ...

, the Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal, the

Sewabhimani Padakkama The Sewabhimani Padakkama ( Sinhala: සේවාභිමානී පදක්කම; Meritorious Service Medal) is a service medal awarded to servicepersons of the Military of Sri Lanka, for services to the nation and its development follow ...

, the Sewa Padakkama, the

50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal The 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal ( Sinhala: ස්වර්ණ ජයන්ති පදක්කම ''swarna jayanthi padakkama'') was a military decoration awarded by the Military of Sri Lanka The Sri Lanka Armed Forces ...

, the

Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal The Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal was a Sri Lankan campaign medal for action during Eelam War IV, presented to: * The Minister of Defence, the deputy Minister of Defence, the Defence Secretary, Service Commanders and the Inspector General ...

, the

Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal The Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal was a Sri Lankan campaign medal for action during Eelam War IV, presented to: * The Minister of Defence, the deputy Minister of Defence, the Defence Secretary, Service Commanders and the Inspector Gener ...

(with

clasp Clasp, clasper or CLASP may refer to: * Wrist clasp, a dressing accessory * Folding clasp, a device used to close a watch strap * Medal bar, an element in military decoration * Fastener, a hardware device that mechanically joins objects together * ...

), the

North and East Operations Medal The North and East Operations Medal ( Sinhala: උතුරු නැගෙනහිර සංග්‍රාමික පදක්කම ''uthuru nægenahira sangrāmika padakkama'') was a decoration presented to servicepersons of the Military o ...

(with two

s), the Purna Bhumi Padakkama, and the Riviresa Campaign Services Medal.

Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal ribbon bar

Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal ribbon bar

50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal

Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal ribbon bar

Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal ribbon bar

North and East Operations Medal ribbon bar

Riviresa Campaign Services Medal ribbon bar

His badges include: the Fast Attack Craft (FAC) Squadron Pin, the Surface Warfare Badge, Diving Badge, Commendation Badge and the Qualified in Command and Staff Course Badge.

Private life

He is married to Commander Mala Lamahewa, a lady officer of Sri Lankan Navy. The couple is blessed with two sons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Perera , Priyantha Living people Sinhalese military personnel Year of birth missing (living people) Alumni of Royal College, Colombo Naval and Maritime Academy graduates University of Wollongong alumni Commanders of the Navy (Sri Lanka) Sri Lankan vice admirals