Thisara Samarasinghe

Admiral Thisara Sugeeshwara Gunasekara Samarasinghe RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, DISS, MNI, SLN (born: 16 July 1955) is Sri Lankan retired navy admiral and was the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy from 15 July 2008 to 15 January 2011. He had a distinguished 36-year career in the Sri Lankan Navy. His career included a wide range of key appointments at sea and ashore, including training in the United Kingdom, India and the United States.

Samarasinghe is currently serving as Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to Australia, a position he has held since 28 July 2011.

Personal life and education Born to Francis Samarasinghe a civil servant and Umawathie Samarasinghe a teacher, Samarasinghe was educated at the Royal College, Colombo.

He won Royal College Colours in Athletics as a sprinter. In 1970, at Cadetting, he had the distinction of being lance corporal in Royal Platoon 1 that won the prestigious Herman Loos Trophy. He achieved the highest position of regimental sergeant major (RSM) of the National Cadet Corps (Sri Lanka) in 1973. He also won the Best Commander’s Prize in 1972 receiving the award from Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Finally Samarasinghe was selected as a senior prefect of Royal College. On leaving school, Samarasinghe joined Lever Brothers as a Trainee Executive. Three months later he left the Company and joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an officer cadet and thus began a voyage that brought him to the pinnacle.

Samarasinghe is married to Malathie, an educationist, with a daughter Nadeesha and a son Harith.

Naval career

Career outline Samarasinghe joined the Sri Lanka Navy after completing school as an Officer Cadet winning the Sword of Honour in the 4th intake at the Naval & Maritime Academy, Trincomalee in 1974. He went on to complete his basic training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as a Midshipmen and graduated in 1976 winning the Best International Midshipman Award along with appointment as Divisional Sub Lieutenant. On his return he specialized as a navigator, attending Navigation and Direction School, INS Venduruthy in India where he graduated securing the 1st place in order of merit.

He had served on board Short Patrol Craft, Long Patrol Craft and in command of one of the first two Dvora - Mk I Fast Attack Crafts in 1985 that would later make up the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla. Thereafter he served on board Fast Gun Boats of the 3rd Fast Gun Boats Squadron and the Surveillance Command Tender and Surveillance Command Ship (then the Flagship) of the 7th Surveillance Command Squadron. During this time he counted seven years of service at sea, out which four and half was in command at sea.

This was the first time that such a rare honour has been bestowed to Sri Lanka in general and the Sri Lanka Navy in particular. Samarasinghe's address earned high praise by the Chief of the United States Navy and all others present at the symposium, where he encapsulated the way ahead for 'Leveraging Cooperative Effort to Enhance Maritime Security Operations' by using a seven-step approach.

Organising 60th-anniversary celebration of the navy Sri Lanka Navy under the leadership of Samarasinghe created history when 19 navies around the globe, including 5 permanent members of United Nations, visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of Samarasinghe to participate at the 60th-anniversary celebration of the Sri Lanka Navy 7 to 11 December 2010 honouring Sri Lanka. Naval chiefs of Australia, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and UAE were on the same platform in Colombo for three days during the three main events attended by Mahinda Rajapaksa the President of Sri Lanka. The presidential fleet review too was represented by large warships of Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, Russia and Thailand showcasing that Sri Lanka’s port of Colombo was a comfortable venue for such diversified representation, which is considered an unprecedented achievement.

Awards and commendations Samarasinghe was awarded Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP) for gallantry in combat, the service medals Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV) in recognition of his devotion and dedication to the country with and unblemished career record, Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for meritorious and distinguished service, the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal and other medals that include the Purna Bhumi Padakkama and the North and East Operations Medal. Samarasinghe is a recipient of 5 commendation letters from four commanders of the navy for his outstanding performance throughout the long career.

In July 2010, Samarasinghe was presented with a certificate of appreciation of the Government of Australia for the support and assistance rendered by efficient methods adopted to prevent human smuggling from the shore of Sri Lanka.

In October 2011, while serving as High Commissioner to Australia, Samarasinghe was accused of war crimes by the International Commission of Jurists for his role in the final offensives against the Tamil Tigers. However, the Australian Federal Police dismissed these war crimes allegations. On 18 July 2012, a spokeswomen for the Federal Police stated the International Commission of Jurists was advised of this decision on March 3, 2012.