Vice admiral Susith Maliya Bandara Weerasekara RSP, VSV, USP, ndu, psn, MSc. (DS) Mgmt, DISS, DIDSS (born 22 August 1959) was a commissioned officer of the Sri Lanka Navy. He was the highest ranked senior officer of the Sri Lanka Navy at the time he was overlooked for the position of Commander of the Navy, leading to his subsequent retirement. A committee appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena found that he was politically victimised by the previous government and he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral in October 2015.
Education
Born in Nugawela, Kandy, he was educated at Nugawela Primary School, St. Anthony's College (Katugasthota) and Vidyartha College. He represented Vidyartha College in Boxing and Rugby. At the age of 19, he joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet of the 7th intake. During his studies at the Naval and Maritime Academy (Trincomalee) he won several awards including those for Highest Aggregate and Highest in Nautical subjects. Considering his performance he was selected to undergo the international Midshipman course at the Britannia Royal Naval College, which he completed with a high order of merit. In 1981 he completed the Sub-Lieutenant technical course at INS Venduruthy, achieving a first class pass. Based on these achievements he was selected first in the order of seniority, within the 7th intake. Later he specialized in communications at INS Venduruthy. His grade point average in this course of 94.3%, is still the highest by a foreign student.
He graduated from the Pakistan Naval Staff College (now Pakistan Naval War College) in 1995, achieving first place in the order of merit among students. Later, he completed a Master of Science in Management, with a first class pass, at the Kotalawala Defence Academy (now Kotalawala Defence University). In 2008 he graduated from the PLA National Defense University (Beijing, China) with a high order of merit. He is also an alumnus of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
Naval career
He has served the Sri Lanka Navy with distinction and valour in several maritime and land appointments, taking part in several confrontations against the Sea Tigers of the LTTE during Sri Lanka's War Against Terrorism
Maritime commands
He was the first commanding officer of the SLNS Nandimithra, one of the two Fast Missile Vessels (FMV) acquired by the Sri Lanka Navy. Serving the rank of Captain at the time, he was selected to undergo training and thereafter sail the vessel from Haifa, Israel to Colombo, Sri Lanka. This was only the second time ever, and the first time in over four decades, that a Sri Lankan Naval vessel had crossed the Suez Canal and undertaken such a long journey.
Other vessels commanded by him were: P424 - Patrol Boat SLNS Rakshaka - Fast Gun Boat (FGB) SLNS Ranagaja - Landing Craft, Mechanical (LCM)
Land commands
He has served as the Commandant of the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee. It was during his tenure in 2003, that the NMA received the President's Colour.
Land bases commanded by him were: SLNS Tammanna, Talaimannar, North Central Naval Command SLNS Tissa, Trincomalee, Eastern Naval Command
Directorate and area commands
During the final and decisive phase of Sri Lanka's War Against Terrorism, from 2006 to 2009 he served as the Director of Naval Operation (DNO), Director General Operations (DGO) and lastly the Commander of the Eastern Naval Area (ComEast). Most of the LTTE's arms supply ships were sunk, whilst he was serving as DGO
His other appointments in directorates and area commands were:
Deputy Director Naval Personnel (DDNP) Deputy Director Naval Training (DDNT) Deputy Area Commander, Western Naval Area (DAC-West) Director Naval Administration (DNA) Director Naval Welfare (DNW) Area Commander, Western Naval Area (ComWest) Area Commander, Northern Naval Area (ComNorth)
In 2009 he was appointed the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy. Since April 2011, he serves as Commandant of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force. During his tenure as ComNorth the Northern Naval Command was presented with the President's colour.
Decorations and medals
He is the recipient of the Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry at sea and the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya for distinguished service of more than 25 years, with flawless military and moral conduct. Other medals awarded to him include: