Remembering War Heroes on 30th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron Commander (VNF) Cedric Martenstyn- Co- Founder of SBS – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Former Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd Commander (VNF) Cedric Martenstyn Cedric Martenstyn was a very rich and affluent man. He owned a house in Colombo 7 , valuable properties throughout the country, vehicles/ speed boats and ran the lucrative business of importing Johnson and Evanrude Out board Motors (OBM) and sold to local fishermen and fish businessmen. He was the local agent these OBMs and very popular product among humble fishermen of our country for their reliability and after sales service. He was fondly known as “Sudu Mahattaya “(white Gentleman) by humble fishermen and he will travel in his double cab to length and breadth of country to meet them and solve their problems ...
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Remembering Heroes on 30th Anniversary of Special Boats Squadron – What I Learnt from The War Hero’s Son – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Former Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd Not all of us can do great things. But we can do small things with great love.’ — Mother Teresa “I learned true essence of GRATITUDE from this War Hero’s son” My mobile phone rang a few years back when I was Chief of Defence Staff (Senior most officer of Sri Lanka Military). It’s a number I have not saved. I answered the call. A faint voice of a young child on the other end. “Sir I am Wikum Anuhas, Son of Chief Petty Officer K G Shantha.” Yes Son! I replied. Late Chief Petty Officer KG Shantha was from elite Special Boats Squadron (SBS), the Naval Commando Unit who paid ...
Remembering heroes on 30th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron Source:Island The desk in Flag Lieutenant (Aide-de-Camp) office allocated to late Lt. Commander (SBS) Samantha W. Gallage, WWV, RWP, RSP when Admiral Wijegunaratne was Navy Commander, and Chief of Defence Staff. By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne (Retired from Sri Lanka Navy) Former Chief of Defence Staff & Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd. Thirty years ago, in Fort Hammenhiel, Karainagar, two officers and 42 sailors volunteered to undergo a special training to start a new unit in our Navy; it was known as the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) or the Naval Commando Unit. The SBS was formed to fight the LTTE’s Sea Tigers in lagoons and waterways. I was fortunate enough to command the unit and train my men to be the “Bravest of the Brave” in the Navy. I was a young Lieutenant Commander ...
Remembering Heroes on 30th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron – By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne (Retired from Sri Lanka Navy) Former Chief of Defence Staff & Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd. Samantha with his son after receiving two gallantry medals from HE the President on 4th Feb 1996 (8 months before his death) Thirty years ago, in Fort Hammenhiel, Karainagar, two officers and 42 sailors, volunteered to undergo a special training to start a new unit in our navy known as the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) or the Naval Commando Unit. SBS was formed to fight against LTTE Sea Tigers in lagoons and waterways. I was fortunate enough to command this unit and train my men to be the “Bravest of the Brave” in the Navy. I was a young Lieutenant Commander at that time and my Second-in-Command was an officer more than ...
Photo of Navy Commanders Enclave at Navy House, Colombo 7 hosted by present Navy Commander Vice Admiral Priyanta Perera on 5 September 2023 Seated L to R – Admiral Cicil Thissera, Deshamannya Admiral Basil Gunasekara, Admiral Daya Sadagiri, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda Standing L to R – Admiral Sirimewan Ranasinghe, Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, Vice Admiral Priyanta Perera ( host), Admiral Jayantha Perera, Admiral Somathilake Dissanayale, Admiral Piyal De Silva and Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna Absent – Admiral Jayanath Colobage ( Ambassador in Indonesia and Admiral Travis Sinniah – living in Australia ...
Don’t cry for me Sri Lanka – Why sea turtles and dolphins drying in our waters last month? – by Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne Source : srilankaguardian I am an ex-SBS person, member of elite Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron, the Naval Commando unit. When our country fought against LTTE, our small groups were deployed in enemy beaches for reconnaissance. These highly trained four-man group of SBS personnel infiltrate in to enemy held area discreetly under cover of darkness. They stay there either for reconnaissance or to establish an “Catche” of ammunition and other supplies required for future operations in the area. When such risky clandestine operation was conducted those days, when I was CO SBS, committing my best men for these operations, I also go into a cell, staying day and night sleeping in operations room next to our secure communication set, eating the same rations my boys eat ...
Seychelles men and women volleyball teams arrive in Sri Lanka-by Susil Premalal Source:Dailymirror The men’s and women’s volleyball teams of Seychelles arrived in Sri Lanka today (19). This is the first time that two national volleyball teams from Seychelles, an East African country, will participate in a tour of Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Volleyball Federation (SLVB) says that the two traveling Seychelles teams are going to compete in this country for five matches including against the Sri Lanka Men’s and Women’s Teams during this five-day tour. ...
Navy assists devotees traveling from Jaffna to Sella Katharagama by foot Source:Island Sri Lanka Navy on 10th June 2023 began providing assistance to devotees who are traveling by foot on the annual pilgrimage from Jaffna to Sella Katharagama. The Navy will assist the pilgrims by providing medical facilities, life-saving amenities, clean drinking water, meals and various other services while they are traveling between Kumana and Kumbukkan Oya. The Pada Yaathra is to end on the 27th of June. ...
Dive into Trinco’s treasure trove beneath the waves-By Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera Source:Sundaytimes Trincomalee is not only a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of ancient history and natural beauty, but also a unique world-class dive site with its beautiful reef, shipwrecks and diverse marine life. Promotion of recreational diving in Trincomalee harbour is timely. Despite being located in naval premises, the Trincomalee harbour has a great potential to entice diving enthusiasts to explore Trincomalee beneath the waves, accompanied by naval divers. he eastern seaboard that extends over 300 km is of unparalleled beauty and the adjoining seas endowed with beautiful reefs, shipwrecks and marine life are a paradise for diving attracting many foreigners and diving enthusiasts. The virgin reef surrounding Pigeon Island is one of the country’s marine protected areas. ...
“MEMORIES” – By Des Kelly “Yes, I do still remember this ‘Green’ when it was totally of that beautiful shade. I still remember H.M,Cy.S. “Vijaya”, the Minesweeper and former H.M.S.”Flying Fish”, the British had presented to the Royal Ceylon Navy, with due appreciation for what our Ceylonese lads had done to help them during W.W.2. H.M.CY.S.”Vijaya” was the first and ONLY Ship that our Royal Ceylon Navy had, at the time, a tiny Vessel in comparison to the much larger warships owned by the British Navy, and yet, she was what was known, both as the ‘flying fish’ and ‘floating cork’ that would not sink, no matter how ‘heavy’ the Seas were. As the name suggested, she was used firstly by the British, to sweep and get rid of, the hidden Sea mines that dotted the Oceans around us. She was also the very first ‘training-ship’ for the R.Cy.N., of ...
