Piyal De Silva
Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, WWV & Bar, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu is a Sri Lanka Navy Admiral. He is the current Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy.[1]
Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva | |
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Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
Service/ | |
Rank | Vice Admiral |
Unit | Executive branch, Diver, Special Boat Squadron |
Commands held | Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy Deputy Chief of Staff Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet |
Battles/wars | Sri Lankan Civil War |
Awards |
Early life and education
Educated at Dharmasoka College, a Leading government School in the southern township of Ambalangoda in Sri Lanka with a history of producing Top ranking military personnel, he enlisted in the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet in the 12th intake in 1984 undergoing basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy. He later gained a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management, a Master of Defence and Strategic Studies and graduated from the PLA National Defence University.
Naval career
On completion of his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in February 1986. During his early career he specialized as an explosive ordnance disposal diver going on to command the elite Special Boat Squadron and the Diving Unit of the Navy. An officer of the executive branch he held sea commands as Captain of several warships.
He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 2012 and held appointments such as Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Commander Eastern, Southern, North-western and Northern Naval areas.
President Maithripala Sirisena appointed De Silva the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy with effect from 2 July 2018. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director General Operations.[2] On 31 December 2018, he was appointed by President Sirisena as Commander of the Navy and promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral effective from 1 January 2019.
His decorations include Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya twice, Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry; Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya and Uttama Seva Padakkama for meritorious service.
Sporting career
De Silva was adjudged the Best Sportsman of the Sri Lanka Navy on two occasions and represented the Sri Lankan national basketball team at South Asian and Asian Basketball Tournaments.
Family
Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva is married to Arundathi Jayaneththi and they have two sons.
References
- Rear Admiral Piyal de Silva appointed 23rd Navy Commander
- "Rear Admiral Piyal De Silva new Navy's Chief of Staff". Daily Mirror. 3 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
External links
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Sirimevan Ranasinghe |
Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy January 2019 - |
Incumbent |
Preceded by Neil Rosayro |
Chief of Staff of the Sri Lankan Navy July 2018 - December 2018 |
Succeeded by Jagath Ranasinghe |