New guardians of the seas: 34 Midshipmen commissioned at Trincomalee
A total of 34 midshipmen were commissioned into the Sri Lanka Navy during a ceremony at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) in Trincomalee on 11 July 2026.
The passed-out group of officers comprised nine (9) midshipmen from the 39th intake (Technical) of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), and twenty-five (25) midshipmen from the 66th intake of Officer Cadets of the Sri Lanka Navy. The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Damian Fernando, graced the dignified occasion as the Chief Guest.
Upon arrival, Vice Admiral Fernando was received by the Commandant NMA, Commodore Dinesh Bandara, and accompanied to the main dais, where he received a Guard of Honour before inspecting the divisions. Subsequently, the ceremony saw presentation of awards to those who excelled during their training and awarding of swords to the officers being commissioned.
Among the award winners were;
- Midshipman RARC Ranasinghe - Best Midshipman (Technical), 39th intake of KDU
- Midshipman HMKM Bandara - Sword of Honour for the Best Midshipman, 66th intake
- Midshipman DNTG Nanayakkara - Highest Aggregate in Professional Subjects, 66th intake
- Midshipman WKD Wijesinghe - Best Marksman, 66th intake
- Lady Midshipman AVO Athukorala - Best Sportsman, 66th intake
Addressing the august gathering, Vice Admiral Fernando stated that the commissioning marked both the conclusion of rigorous training and the start of a professional career for the new officers. He emphasised the importance of discipline, professionalism, and integrity, urging the new batch of officers to lead by example and uphold naval traditions.
The Navy Chief expressed gratitude to the parents and academy staff for their support, and requested senior officers to provide continued guidance to the new cohort. Quoting late General Sir John Kotelawala, he noted that "The strength of a nation lies in its youth, and the strength of youth lies in their education". The Navy Commander also underscored that leadership, when grounded in education and strong values, forms the bedrock of national security.
He went on to convey the Navy's profound pride in the new officers, urging them to uphold the Service's time-honoured traditions and serve the motherland with honour, excellence, and dedication. He concluded by extending best wishes for their future endeavours.
The Commissioning Ceremony concluded on a memorable note with a precision drill display by naval recruits, a captivating performance by the Navy band and the traditional sunset ceremony, bringing the day's proceedings to a fitting close.
The occasion was attended by religious dignitaries including the members of Maha Sangha, the Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Ravindra Tissera, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy, Rear Admiral Buddhika Liyanagamage, members of the Navy Board of Management, senior and junior officers, and family members of the newly commissioned officers and invited guests.