President appoints new Navy Commander

Saturday, 19 August 2017 00:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

sfd Vice Admiral Travis Sinniah has been appointed the 21st Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy by President Maithripala Sirisena.

Sinniah received his letter of appointment fro the President at the latter’s official residence yesterday.

Travis Sinniah joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 1982, and has been awarded a number of medals, including the Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya, Rana Wickrama, Ranashura (Three times) and Uttama Seva, the President’s Office said in a statement.

The services of the newly appointed Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy will be effective from 22 August. Secretary to the President Austin Fernando and Defence Secretary Kapila Waidyaratne were also present on this occasion.

A Tamil national has been appointed to the top post of the navy after a lapse of 47 years.

Rear Admiral Travis Jeremy Liyanduru Sinniah, is the second Tamil to head the country’s navy after Rear Admiral Rajanathan “Rajan” Kadirgamar who served between 1960 and 70.

Shortly after the swearing in ceremony, President Sirisena tweeted saying that Sinniah had served the Navy “with immense loyalty for many decades.”