Rear Admiral S.S. Ranasighe has been appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy.

With this new appointment Rear Admiral S.S. Ranasinghe has been elevated to the rank of Vice Admiral.

The appointment, effective from tomorrow (October 26), was made in accordance with the power vested in the President under the constitution of Sri Lanka.

Accordingly, he received his letter of appointment from Secretary to the President, Austin Fernando at the Presidential Secretariat, today (25).

A former Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Sirimevan Ranasinghe was appointed as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy in July 2015. 

He will take over from his predecessor Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah who assumed duties at the position just two months ago on August 22, 2017.

Rear Admiral S.S. Ranasinghe received his education from Anuradhapura Central College and joined Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet of the 11th Intake on 15 November 1982 and undergone his basic training at Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee, where he was adjudged the best cadet and selected for International Midshipmen Course in Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, England (1984-1985). 

Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe is an Anti Submarine Warfare Specialist trained at INS Vendurutthy, Kochi. He followed his Naval Staff Course in 1999 in Defence Services Command and Staff College in Wellington, India. 

Further, he attended the Allied Officers’ War Course at National Defence University in Islamabad; Pakistan in 2007 and National Defence Course in 2012 at National Defence College, New Delhi India. 

Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe has commanded various ships in Sri Lanka Navy including SLNS Samudura (Commissioning Commanding Officer of US Coastguard Cutter received from United States of America), Fast Attack Craft and Landing Craft. 

He commanded the prestigious Fast Attack Squadron in 2002-2004. He was the Deputy Area Commander Southern Naval Area in 2008, Commander Southern Naval Area in 2012 and Commander Western Naval Area in 2013-2014. 

He has held many important appointments including; Commandant Naval and Maritime Academy, Director Naval Operations, Director Naval weapons, Director Marine special forces, Director Naval Projects and Plans and Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard. Prior to this appointment he was the Chief of Staff in Sri Lanka Navy. 

He is a highly decorated officer being a recipient of Weera Wickrama Vibushanaya and Rana Wikrama Padakkama for gallantry in the face of the enemy. Also he has been decorated for distinguished service and he has been commended by the Commander of the Navy for outstanding performance of duty and exceptional contributions to Naval service.