New Navy Commander takes the helm

Wednesday, 15 July 2020 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Asiri Fernando

Rear Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne is expected to be appointed as the 24th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa today while being promoted to the rank Vice Admiral.

Rear Admiral

Nishantha Ulugetenne

Ulugetenne joined the Navy as an Officer Cadet in 1985 and underwent training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee and was commissioned in 1987. He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 2015. He has specialised in the field of Gunnery and Missiles and has commanded the prestigious 4th Fast Attack Craft Flotilla during the war.

He was the Deputy Chief of Staff prior to being appointed as Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy on 4 May 2019. During his 35 years of service to the nation, he has held office as the Director Naval Intelligence and his other shore assignments include Director Naval Weapons, Deputy Area Commander (North), Director General (Services), and Commander Southern Naval Area, Commander Western Naval Area, Commandant Volunteer Naval Force.

During his service, Ulugetenne has been awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) for his act of bravery in the face of the enemy twice and Vishista Seva Vibhushanay (VSV) and Uththama Seva Padakkama (USP) for his exemplary conduct exhibited in his distinguished naval career. He has also been decorated with the Deshaputhra Medal for sustaining injuries while on active duty.

Ulugetenne holds three Master Degrees from the Kings College in London, UK, University of Wollongong, Australia and University of Madras, India. He completed his studied at the Advance Command and Staff Course at the Joint Service Command and Staff College, UK where he was conferred with ‘psc’ qualification and Master of Arts in Defence Studies.

He is a distinguished alumni of the National Defence College, India where he graduated with Master of Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies. He had also studied at length on ‘Comprehensive Security Measures to Terrorism’ at Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies (APCSS), Hawaii.