COLOMBO: President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed Rear Admiral Upul De Silva as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, effective from June 21, 2022. Accordingly, Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne handed over the letter of appointment in this regard to Rear Admiral Upul De Silva at the Navy Headquarters.
Rear Admiral Upul De Silva is a proud product of Bandarawela Central College. He joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 1986 as an Officer Cadet of the 15th intake, to the Executive branch. The officer successfully completed his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee and was commissioned as an Acting Sub Lieutenant in 1988.
He followed the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course in India in 1989 and has also specialized in Communication from INS Venduruthy, India. Since then, he was gradually promoted to subsequent ranks in his naval career, finally being elevated to the rank of Rear Admiral on May 3, 2019.
During his tenure in the Sri Lanka Navy, Rear Admiral Upul De Silva has held a number of both staff and command appointments such as; Officer in Command Fast Attack Craft, Commanding Officer of various ships and establishments, Commandant SLNS Shiksha, Deputy Director Naval Training, Deputy Director General Sri Lanka Coast Guard, Director Naval Inspectorate, Deputy Area Commander North Central Naval Area, Acting Director General Naval and Air Operations at OCDS, Director Naval Communication, Deputy Area Commander Eastern Naval Area and Port Facility Security Officer of Trincomalee, Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Director General Personnel and Commander Western Naval Area. Prior to his elevation to the post of Chief of Staff of the Navy, he served as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Navy.
Rear Admiral Upul De Silva completed his Command and Staff Course at Naval Staff College, US Naval War College, RI, USA, where he graduated in year 2003. The senior officer has also successfully completed the Defence Management Course in India in 2011, the Group Commander Course in China in 2013 and Master’s Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies in National Defence University, China in 2017.
He has been awarded the Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP) and Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP). In addition, he is a recipient of Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) and has also been commended on three occasions by Commander of the Navy for his outstanding and exceptional contributions to the naval service.
Rear Admiral Upul De Silva is married to Shyama Thilakarathne and has a daughter-Tharushi and son Pasindu.
