Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ravindra Ravi Wijegunaratne’s term has been extended by President Maithripala Sirisena, it was reported.
He was first appointed to the position in July, 2015. His term was extended with effect from today and it will continue for six months.
Wijegunaratne joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an officer cadet of the 9th Intake on in November, 1980. He underwent his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee and at the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC), Dartmouth, UK.
According to Navy, Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne is the senior most Special Forces naval officer who was instrumental in forming the Sri Lanka Navy’s Special Force element known as the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) which contributed immensely during the conflict period. He commanded this elite unit twice in his career and has led a number of SBS operations behind the enemy lines and amphibious operations including the famous ‘Pooneryn Operation’ in 1993.
