Naval and Maritime Academy

Naval and Maritime Academy
Active	18 July 1967 –Present
Country	Sri Lanka
Branch	Sri Lanka Navy
Type	Training
Role	Officer Training
Size	600 Officer Cadets & Midshipmans
Garrison/HQ	SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee
Nickname	NMA
Motto	Moulding future Admirals
Anniversaries	18 July
Commanders
Commandant	Commodore DC Gunawardane,SLN
Notable commanders	Commander M. G. S. Perera RCyN

Sri Lanka Navy

Components
Sri Lanka Navy
Volunteer Naval Force
Fast Attack Flotilla
Naval Patrolmen
Special Boat Squadron
History
History of the Sri Lanka Navy
Ships
Current Fleet
Historic Ships
Personnel
Commander of the Navy
Naval Ranks

Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee, is the location of initial officer training in the Sri Lanka Navy, and is located within SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee. It received university status in 2001. Current commandant of the NMA is Commodore SS Ranasinghe wwv.

History

Trincomalee is the largest natural harbor in Sri Lanka and has been used for centuries as major hub international sea lanes. The training of naval officers at Trincomalee dates from the British colonial rule. The first batch Ceylonese officer cadets where trained here during World War II. After the establishment of the Royal Ceylon Navy following Ceylon's independence in 1950. The need for officer training came to light therefore midshipmen where sent to Britannia Royal Naval College for officer training. With the expansion of the navy and the high cost of training officers overseas promoted the navy to establish its own officer training center.

First established in 15 January 1967, on 18 July 1967 the Naval and Maritime Academy was formally commissioned with Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera as its first commandant. Thereafter all officers of the Sri Lanka Navy (since it was renamed in 1972) received their training here. Training was not limited to naval officers but also for merchant mariners too. Since the early 1980s SLNS Gajabahu a River class frigate has been used by the NMA as a training ship. In 2001 NMA received university status and President's Colours in 2003.

Intakes

There are several intakes for cadet officers and midshipmen annually. These are under the following category.

• Cadet Entry Degree Programme
  • B.Sc. in Naval Studies (University of Kelaniya)
  • Navy Officer cadets from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (last year)
• Cadet Entry Non-Degree Programme
• Direct Entry Stream to the Regular Force - For professionals (Doctors, IT specialists, Engineers, etc.)
• Volunteer Stream - Officers for the Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force
• Service Entry - For serving ratings

Degrees conducted by the NMA

These degrees are accredited to the University of Kelaniya;

• Bachelor of Science Naval Studies in Maritime Warfare
• Bachelor of Science Naval Studies in Land Warfare
• Bachelor of Science Naval Studies in Logistic Management

Commandants

• Commander M. G. S. Perera RCyN - Founder NMA and former Director Naval Training.
• Admiral H.A. Silva VSV, ndc, psc SLN - former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy
• Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc SLN - former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy
• Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, DISS, MNI, SLN - former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy
• Rear admiral Susith Weerasekara RSP, VSV, USP, ndu, psn, MSc. (DS) Mgmt, DISS, DIDSS - present Deputy Chief of staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, under whose tenure (in 2003) the NMA received the President's colour

Notable alumni

• Lieutenant-Commander Jude Lakmal Wijethunge † -Parama Weera Vibhushanaya recipient.
• Admiral D.W.K Sandagiri VSV, USP, rcds, ndc, psc, JP SLN - Commander of the Navy (2001–2005)
• Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc SLN - Commander of the Navy (2005–2009)

See also

• SLNS Gajabahu
• General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
• Sri Lanka Military Academy
• Air Force Academy, China Bay

External links and sources

• Sri Lanka Navy
• Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera - the founder of the Naval Academy, by M. H. Weliwitigoda, Lieutenant Commander SLN. (Rtd.)
• [1]
• Memorials to a brave, old world, by Rashomi Silva
• 24 Naval Officers receive their graduation at BMICH
• Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA) Receives ISO 9001:2000, defence.lk
• Naval and Maritime Academy of SLN reaches Par Excellence, navy.lk