Rear Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe assumes duties as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy

His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, appointed Rear Admiral SS Ranasinghe, WWV, RWP, USP, ndc, psc as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy with effect from 11^th July 2015.

Prior to being appointed as the Chief of Staff, he held the post of Director General of the Sri Lanka Coast Guard.

Rear Admiral Sirimevan Sarathchandra Ranasinghe received his education from Anuradhapura Central College and joined Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet of the 11^th Intake on 15 November 1982 and underwent his basic training at the 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 and craft in Sri Lanka Navy including SLNS Samudura (Commissioning Commanding Officer of US Coast Guard Cutter received from the United States of America), Fast Attack Craft and Landing Craft. He also 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 and Director Naval Projects and Plans.

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.

He has earned Master’s Degrees from prestigious  Madras University for Defence and Strategic Studies ( First Class) and for War Studies and Defence Management (Second Upper) from National Defence University; Islamabad. He has also been conferred with MPhil in Defence and Strategic Studies (First Class) from Madras University.

He is a keen sportsman where he received Britannia Royal Naval College Colours for Badminton and the recipient of the Triple Crown in Badminton in 1997 in Inter Command Navy Tournament.