Former Navy and Air Force Commanders awarded highest military ranks

President Maithripala Sirisena conferred the highest honorary military ranks on former Commander of Sri Lanka Navy Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda and former Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke at an investiture ceremony held on Thursday.

Karannagoda was promoted to Admiral of the Fleet while Goonetilleke was promoted to Marshal of Sri Lanka Air Force. The President had earlier awarded the honorary military ranks in an Extraordinary Gazette Notification, and the formal presentation took place today at the Colombo Harbour premises.

Admiral of the Fleet Karannagoda served as Commander of the Navy from 2005 to 2009. The first Naval Officer to obtain two Masters Degrees, Karannagoda was a member of the Royal Institute of Navigation and the Nautical Institute of United Kingdom.

Before serving as the Commander of the Navy, he commanded four Operational Naval Commands on seven occasions, and rendered an outstanding service to the progress of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Admiral Karannagoda, who has the distinction of being the only officer to be considered to the highest seating of the Commander of the Navy straight from a Naval Area Command, is the recipient of many gallantry awards such as “Ranashoora”, “Vishishta Seva Vibhooshana”, “Uththama Seva” and “Poorna Bhoomi”.

Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke, who was appointed as the 12th Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force on 12 June 2006, retired from his post on 27 February 2011.

Air Chief Marshal Goonetilleke joined the Air Force in 1978 as an officer cadet, and in a career spanning over thirty-three years, accumulated more than 4200 flying hours on both fixed-wing and rotor-wing aircraft.

Under his leadership, the Air Force was able to make a significant difference in the final stages of the humanitarian operation that brought to an end the conflict that had already taken a significant toll from the nation. “Rana Wickrama”, “Vishishta Seva Vibhooshana” and “Uththama Seva” are among the awards that were presented to Air Chief Marshal Goonetilleke in recognition of his service to the country.

Secretary to the President Udaya R. Seneviratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence General Shantha Kottegoda, Chief of the Defence Staff, Commanders of the Tri-Forces, the Inspector General of Police and others participated on this occasion.