Vice Admiral Damian Fernando appointed new Navy Commander

Colombo, June 30 (Daily Mirror) - President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has appointed Rear Admiral Damian Fernando as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. Concurrently elevated to the rank of Vice Admiral, he will take charge as the 27th Commander of the country's naval forces.

The formal letter of appointment was handed over to Vice Admiral Fernando by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, on Tuesday (June 30) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat.

 The new appointment is scheduled to take effect from July 1, 2026. He succeeds the incumbent Navy Commander, Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, who is slated to retire from active military service on the same day.

Prior to his promotion, Vice Admiral Fernando served with distinction as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy. An alumnus of St. Joseph Vaz College in Wennappuwa, his highly decorated naval career began in 1991 when he joined the Navy's Executive Branch as an Officer Cadet under the 21st intake. Following the successful completion of his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee, he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in 1993.

Spanning nearly 35 years of dedicated naval service, Vice Admiral Fernando has completed numerous local and international professional training programs and specialized courses. His exceptional gallantry and devotion to duty on the battlefield have earned him several military honors, including the prestigious Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) and the Uththama Sewa Padakkama (USP). Recognizing his professional excellence, efficiency, and outstanding operational contributions, Navy Commanders have honored him with formal Letters of Commendation on six separate occasions.

Beyond his tactical expertise, Vice Admiral Fernando possesses a strong academic background in strategic studies. He holds a Master of Science degree in Defence Studies from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Sri Lanka, alongside a Master of Arts degree in International Security and Strategy from King's College London, United Kingdom.