Commander of the Navy’s Historic Visit to the Special Boat Squadron

The Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne, the founder of the Sri Lanka Navy’s Special Boat Squadron (SBS) made a historic visit to its headquarters in Trincomalee on Sunday (06 September).

The visit is historic in many ways personally to the Commander of the Navy as well as to the SBS. As the founding father of the SBS, he will go down in history as the first ever SBS officer to reach the helm of the Sri Lanka Navy. The SBS, on the other hand, was fortunate to have the Commander of the Navy, who was instrumental in forming the elite fighting squadron of the Sri Lanka Navy. He will also be remembered as the first ever Special Forces qualified officer to reach the helm of a military service in our country.

A one minute silence was observed in honor of the fallen comrades as a mark of respect for their true valor and bravery displayed in the battle field for the defense of the motherland. A total of 48 SBS personnel have made the supreme sacrifice in protecting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of mother Lanka. These gallant SBS personnel include highest medal recipient (Parama Weera Vibushanaya), the Late Chief Petty Officer KG Shantha who sacrificed his life to protect a senior SBS officer during a battle out at sea with the LTTE Sea Tiger suicide boat and the Weera Wickrama Vibushanaya recipient, late Lieutenant Commander SW Gallage, the first Second-in-Command of the SBS.

Vice Admiral Wijegunaratne was the first Commanding Officer of the unit and had the opportunity to command the SBS twice in his illustrious naval career. He paid a great deal of attention to develop the skills of the SBS enabling it to match with any other Special Forces unit in the world. The skills and tactics he had imparted to the SBS personnel were indigenous in many ways and remain even to date as the foundation on which other professional skills of the SBS were developed.

Expanding well over 22 years, the SBS has today become one of the leading Special Force unit with a regional as well as a global recognition for the sheer valor, dedication, professionalism and bravery they had shown in fighting the LTTE. The Navy Commander himself has given leadership to quite a number of operations at the most critical time periods of the conflict.

The SBS is conversant with a wide range of unique Special Forces skills on land, sea surface, underwater and air, becoming a four dimensional unit in the country. Among many skills, the SBS personnel are conversant in conducting land-based operations, including inshore and coastal surface combat to clandestine operations in coastal and deep interior, long range reconnaissance patrol, anti hijack and hostage rescue, VBSS operations (Visit Board Search & Seizure) and VIP protection.

In his address to the officers and sailors, the Navy Commander explained how he formed the SBS by overcoming many challenges and obstacles as a young Lieutenant Commander in 1993. He stated that the idea of forming a unique fighting force sparked in his mind when he fought with the LTTE alongside the Indian Marine Commandos (MARCOS) in the early 90s. He explained how he fought fiercely with the LTTE along with a few handpicked naval personnel in the Jaffna lagoon. His gallant contributions in fighting the LTTE won praise and accolade from the Indian MARCOS.

Further, the Commander of the Navy reminisced the early days of the elite forces, for which he gave leadership at a most crucial time of the country’s history. He also expressed his gratefulness to the naval personnel who volunteered to take the risks head on at its inception and make whatever sacrifices required to make the SBS in becoming one of the most reputed Special Forces units in the country today. The Navy Commander commended the SBS for the pivotal role it played in the eradication of terrorism and expressed his confidence that SBS personnel will render their expertise to achieve SLN objectives. He also emphasized the importance of acquiring new skills as well as continuing training in order to face the future challenges.

At the end of the visit, mementos were also exchanged between the Commander of the Navy and the Commanding Officer SBS. A tree sapling was also planted by the Commander of the Navy in the SBS Headquarters’ premises to mark the occasion prior to signing the Visitor’s Book.

The Deputy Chief of Staff/Commander Eastern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Neil Rosayro and senior officers accompanied the Navy Commander during the visit.