Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera assumed duties as the 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy following a special ceremony at the Naval Headquarters in Colombo this morning. 

He takes over from Admiral Jayanath Colombage, who retired from the post on Monday (June 30).

Rear Admiral Jayantha Perera, RWP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, was appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and promoted to the 3-star rank of Vice Admiral with effect from 01st July 2014.

Prior to being appointed as the Navy Commander, he held the post of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera joined the Sri Lanka Navy on 23rd August 1978 and underwent his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee. He is a Gunnery specialist trained at the Gunnery School Kochi in India. He followed his Naval Staff Course in India and National Defence Course at the National Defence University of Islamabad, Pakistan. He holds Master of Science degrees in Defence Studies and Defence & Strategic Studies from the University of Madras, India and the National Defence University of Islamabad, Pakistan. He has also followed an International Disaster Management Course & Workshop in the United Kingdom in May 2005 and the Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Course conducted by the United States Naval War College, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii in February 2012.

Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera has had the privilege of commanding various ships in the Sri Lanka Navy, including the Sri Lanka Navy Flag Ship SLNS Sayura (Commissioning Commanding Officer from the Indian Navy), Fast Gun Boats and Landing Craft. He has served as the Commander Western Naval Area in 2008, Commander Southern Naval Area in 2007 and Deputy Area Commander Eastern Naval Area during the humanitarian operation in 2006. He has held many important staff appointments, which include Director General Operations, Director General Services, Flag Officer Commanding the Naval Fleet, Director Naval Operations & Special Force, Director Naval Weapon, Deputy Director Naval Intelligence, Deputy Director Naval Training, Media Spokesman of the Sri Lanka Navy and Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Defence Staff.

Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera is a recipient of the Rana Wickrama Padakkama for gallantry. He has also been recognized with much appreciation for his exemplary and distinguished service and has received many commendations from several Commanders of the Navy for his outstanding performance of duty, hard work, dedication, exceptional contribution and loyalty to the naval service, the SLN media unit said.

He is as a distinguished past pupil of Thurstan College, Colombo.