45th Anniversary of 9th intake Cadets of Sri Lanka Navy

Passing out Parade (PoP) of 9th Intake of Cadets at Naval and Maritime Academy Parade Ground in December 1981. Mahesh leading the batch. Chief Guest was Air Force Commander (then) Air Vice Marshal Dick Perera, VSV.

 Our batch with Commandant / NOIC (T) Captain Elikewela and Training Team

By  Admiral Ravindra 

C Wijegunaratne (Rtd)

45 years ago, on November 1.1980, twelve youth selected from thousands who applied boarded the night mail train bound for Trinco to commence their training as Cadets at the Naval and Maritime Academy, except one whose travel was delayed by one week. This batch was the 9th Intake of Cadets to be trained at the prestigious Naval Academy.   

 Now, everyone in this batch, has retired, except one, who paid the Supreme Sacrifice for the protection of the Sovereignty and Territorial Integrity of our beloved country on June 2, 1985 at the Naval Detachment Kuchchuweli, late Lieutenant Gamini Fernando, an outstanding sportsman from St Anne’s College, Kurunegala. So, everyone agreed to have our 45th Batch Get together at the Naval Base, Trincomalee. As usual, Rohan was the Chief Organiser, Dushyantha helping in the logistics. Chanka, Christie and Damitha travelled from Australia, USA and UK respectively to be with us. It was a great gathering; on 1st November 2025 evening with some of the charming ladies joining in.   

Our batch consisted of Marine Engineering Cadet Mahesh Goonesekere, outstanding sportsman from St. Thomas College, Mt Lavinia (who had College colours in five sports), Executive Cadet Shirantha (Udawatta from Panadura Sri Sumangala College. Shirantha who was the oldest in our batch. Executive Cadet Damitha Vitharana, outstanding Anandian athlete, who jumped 6feet 2inches when his height was only 5 feet 10 inches and also a great 110-meter hurdler. He was the youngest in the batch, Executive Cadet Rohan Amarasinghe from De Mazenod College Kandana, a Sri Lanka schools soccer player, Engineering Cadet Shiran Rathnayake from Isipatana College and handsome like a Hindi film star, Executive Cadet Rohana Perera, outstanding soccer player from Kingswood College, Kandy, Executive Cadet Gamini Fernando, an outstanding Volleyball player from St Anne’s College Kurunegala, Engineering Cadet Thilak Senaratne from Panadura Sri Sumangala , Executive Cadet Chanaka Rupasinghe from Richmond College Galle, Logistics Cadet Roshan Fernando, Royalist and outstanding Public schools Athlete. Roshan’s elder brother, Shermal Fernando was in our senior batch, 8th intake. Logistics Cadet Dushantha Amaranayake, Nalandian Cricketer and myself. Cadet Christie Jayawardena from St. Anthony’s College, Wattala, who lost his father (who was an airline pilot) on the day we travelled to Trincomalee and joined us later.  

I had no idea to join the Navy. My intention was to join the Army. But Roshan insisted at college that the Navy is better than the Army and I should come with him. However, my school friend Sajith’s father was the Chief of Staff of the Navy at that time (late Admiral Asoka De Silva - outstanding Navy Rugby player in the 50s). What I heard from my friend Sajith was that the Navy officer training was very difficult!  

We were received at the Trincomalee railway station by a smart  burgher Petty Officer, who introduced himself as “Petty Officer T.I.Eanus and your Divisional Petty Officer”, clad in a white uniform with white peak cap and shoes, tall, strong perfect body like a Greek God. His Commanding voice and crisp English surprised us and I start wondering if “Petty Officer” is like this, how would be the Officers we are going meet in the Navy!   

Petty officer Eanus started teaching us the “Naval terms”. Gun Room is junior officers Mess. Dinner in the Navy is known as Supper. Lunch is known as dinner! Left side is known as port side. Right side known as Starboard side. Toilets known as heads! What? somebody asked. Toilets known as heads! From tomorrow you are not going to the toilet; you go to heads to shit! Understood! Petty officer Eanus said.  

Tony I Eanus later in the service earned his Commission in Navy Volunteer Force and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander before his retirement.  

That evening our Assistant Divisional Officer came to the Gun Room when we were just about to have our Supper using fork and spoon. He was a dashing Sub Lieutenant who had just returned from UK after completing his International Sub Lieutenant Course at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth and HMNB Portsmouth with flying colours. His dedicated teaching starts with “how to eat with fork and spoon - in the Royal Navy way”. Bad enough, a few of my batch mates had no proper meal that night.   

Our tough time was with MCPO (G.I.) Rathnatunga and his assistant (who later gained Commission and was promoted to Lieutenant Commander) Leading Seaman M.B.C.A Mendis. Mr Rathnatunga ensured we are smart in drill. Being a Lance Sergeant in school Cadeting, I was selected to be Parade Commander most of the days. After a few days I realised that the Parade Commander is never inspected for uniform and polishing brass parts and boots. I conveniently neglected my polishing when others were working hard in polishing at night and then volunteered to do duties of Parade Commander next morning at Parade ground and thereby escaped from dress inspections, until I was caught red-handed by Mr Rathnatunga (MCPO), the senior most rank for sailors also called as Mister). After one-hour extra drill, Mr Rathnatunga’s advice to me was not to repeat it and not to follow the easy way to go to the top!   

 We met our Divisional officer at our class room in Nautical school. He was an old Anandian, Navy Soccer Captain, Lieutenant (G) Sarath Weerasekara (later Cabinet Minister). We loved him. His easy-going approach and excellent orations both in Sinhala and English with glimpses of our history inspired us to work hard and love our country. His knowledge in Buddhism and history was outstanding. He entered in to politics on his retirement after serving as Chief of Staff of Navy and Director General Civil Defence Force and became a Member of Parliament and Minister for Public Security.  

When we look back 45 years out of 12, eleven were fortunate enough to survive in our 36- year long internal conflict, which ended in 2009. All got married and with children (so, the fear we had by being exposed to Decca 110 radar waves whilst on punishment in the Crow’s nest of old gun boat will make us infertile is a myth! - however I can remember wearing more than three under-wears before climbing up to the Crow’s nest to protect our important anatomy of the body!

 Out of twelve, four Damitha, Chanaka, Christie and Shiran opted to retire early and to migrate. All four were doing very well. Those who decided to remained till retirement age of 55 years, five became (two star) Rear Admirals (Mahesh, Rohan, Rohana, Thilak, and Dushantha). Three headed their respective branches in the Navy, (Mahesh and Thilak - Marine Engineering branch, Dushantha - Logistics branch).   

If our batch has done well in the Navy, the credit should go to our instructors at NMA when we were Cadets, who laid  a strong foundation for our career.

 I always remember the wise words of MCPO(G.I.) Rathnatunga at NMA Parade Square in 1980 - “Cadet Wijegunaratne! There are no shortcuts to the top!”   

 I wish good health, wealth and happiness to all 9th Intake officers and their families.