Sri Lanka Navy

Sri Lanka Navy
ශ්‍රී ලංකා නාවික හමුදාව(Sinhala) இலங்கை கடற்படை(Tamil)
Emblem of Sri Lanka Navy
Founded	1938
Country	Sri Lanka
Type	Navy
Role	Naval warfare
Size	40,000 personnel
Part of	Sri Lanka Armed Forces
Headquarters	SLNS Parakrama,Colombo
Motto(s)	Sinhala:රට වට බැඳි රන් ‍වැට Rata Wata Baņdi Ran Wéta English:"The golden fence around the country"
Colours	Navy blue and white
Anniversaries	Navy Day:9 December
Equipment	5Patrol Frigates 3Offshore Patrol Vessels 2Missile boats 9Fast Gun Boats 45Fast attack crafts 5Landing Crafts 200+Fast Inshore Patrol Boats 6Auxiliary vessels
Engagements	World War II 1971 JVP Insurrection Insurrection 1987–89 Sri Lankan Civil War Operation Prosperity Guardian
Decorations	Military awards and decorations of Sri Lanka
Website	www.navy.lk
Commanders
Commander-in-Chief	PresidentAnura Kumara Dissanayake
Commander of the Navy	Vice AdmiralPriyantha Perera
Chief of staff	Rear AdmiralKanchana Banagoda
Deputy Chief of Staff	Rear AdmiralRavi Ranasinghe
Notable commanders	Admiral of the FleetWasantha Karannagoda AdmiralDaya Sandagiri AdmiralW.W.E.C. Fernando† AdmiralThisara Samarasinghe AdmiralRavindra Wijegunaratne
Insignia
Naval ensign
Naval jack

TheSri Lanka Navy(SLN) (Sinhala:ශ්‍රී ලංකා නාවික හමුදාව,romanized:Śrī Laṃkā nāvika hamudāva;Tamil:இலங்கை கடற்படை,romanized:Ilaṅkai kaṭaṟpaṭai) is thenaval armof theSri Lanka Armed Forcesand is classed as the country's most vital defence force due to its island geography. It is responsible for the maritime defence of the Sri Lankan nation and its interests. The role of the Sri Lanka Navy is to conduct operations at sea for the defence of the nation and its interests and conduct prompt and sustainable combat operations at sea in accordance with the national policies.

Sri Lanka,situated in the middle of majorsea lanespassing through theIndian Ocean,was always a magnet for seafarers and has a long history of naval campaigns. The current Sri Lankan Navy was established on 9 December 1950 when the Navy Act was passed for the formation of theRoyal Ceylon Navy.The roots of the modern Sri Lankan Navy date back to 1937 when theCeylon Naval Volunteer Forcewas established, which was renamed and absorbed into theRoyal Navyas theCeylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserveduring World War II. The current name, Sri Lanka Navy, was constituted in 1972 when Sri Lanka became a republic and with the introduction of new constitution.

It played a key role in theSri Lankan Civil War,conducting surveillance and patrol, amphibious and supply operations. During the war, the navy moved from a small force focused on coastal patrols to a large combat force concentrating onasymmetric naval warfarecapable of amphibious and land operations in support ofcounter-insurgencyoperations that progressed into engagements of a new form oflittoral zonewarfare. It carried out expeditionary deployments in the Indian Ocean in order to intercept rogue arm shipments on the high seas. The navy has its own elitespecial forcesunit, theSpecial Boat Squadron.

The professional head of the navy is theCommander of the Navy,currentlyVice AdmiralPriyantha Perera.Thecommander-in-chiefof theSri Lanka Armed Forcesis thePresident of Sri Lanka,who heads theNational Security Council;theMinistry of Defenceis the organization where ship buying policies are made for the navy.The Sri Lanka Navy has five Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels (equivalent to a traditionalpatrol frigate), threeOffshore Patrol Vessels,twomissile boats,40fast attack crafts,more than 200patrol boats,seven landing ships/craft, along with six auxiliary vessels.

History

The beginning and World War II

Main article:Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

Eritrea,14 September 1943 entering Port of Colombo to surrender following interception byHMS Overdale Wykeof the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force.

In January 1938 the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force (CNVF) was created with Commander W.G. Beauchamp asCommanding Officerunder ordinance No I of 1937. On 31 August 1939 at the outset ofWorld War II,the CNVF was mobilised for war duties. It took part in action during theEaster Sunday Raid.Three years later, the CNVF was offered to, and accepted by theRoyal Navy(RN) as aVolunteer Reserve,the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (CRNVR). It continued under Royal Navy operational and administrative command until March 1946. With the end of the war, it reverted to Ceylon Government control, though yet CRNVR in name. In the 1939–1946 period, the CRNVR carried out several operational duties, mainly at sea. Cutting its teeth on the Port Commission tugs Samson and Goliath, it later manned and operated trawlers and Antarctic whalers converted asminesweepersand fitted out with guns, submarine detection equipment and anti-submarine weaponry. They were HMS Overdale Wyke (the first ship to be purchased by the Government of Ceylon), HMS Okapi, HMS Semla, HMS Sambhur, HMS Hoxa, HMS Balta and HM Tugs Barnet and C 405. In addition the CRNVR manned several Motor Fishing Vessels (MFV),Harbour Defence Motor Launch(HDML) and miscellaneous auxiliary vessels. All were manned exclusively by CRNVR personnel. These ships were meant to sweep and guard the approaches the harbours but were often used on extended missions outside Ceylon waters. In the course of these operations, the ships came under enemy fire, recovered essential information fromImperial Japaneseaircraft that were shot down, sailed to Akyab (modernSittwe) after the Burma front was opened in two FMVs for harbour duties, and were called upon to accept the surrender of the ItaliansloopEritreaand escort her to the Colombo port with a prize crew on board.

Royal Ceylon Navy

Naval Ensign of the Royal Ceylon Navy (1950–1972).

Formation

With Ceylon gaining self-rule from the British in 1948, theParliament of Ceylonpassed theNavy Act, No. 34 of 1950which established the Royal Ceylon Navy (RCyN) on 9 December 1950. The CRNVR served as a source of officers and sailors for the newly established RCyN as one hundred were selected and transferred to the regular naval force. Under the Navy Act, the CRNVR became the volunteer naval force on 9 January 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Volunteer Naval Force (RCVNF). The first warship of the RCyN was commissioned in 1951 asHMCySVijaya,anAlgerine-class minesweeper,ex-HMSFlying Fishalong with otherpatrol boatsand tugs. It was the policy of His Majesties Government of Ceylon to build a strong navy to be the first line of defence of theisland country.As such the fleet was expanded with the addition of,HMCySParakrama,another Algerine-class minesweeper (ex-HMSPickle), two Canadian-built "River" class frigatesHMCySMahasena(ex-HMCSOrkney,Violettaand ex-Israeli shipMivtach),HMCySGajabahu(ex-HMCSHallowell,ex-IsraeliMisnak) and an oceangoing tug (ex-HMSAdept). The RCyN took part in several joint naval exercises and a goodwill missions. CommodoreRoyce de Melbecame the first Ceylonese to head the navy as he was appointed Captain of the RCyN in 1955. In 1959, the navy took over the strategicRoyal Naval Dockyard, Trincomaleeas the last of the British forces in Ceylon withdrew. In 1960, fle xing its blue water capability a naval fleet undertook a deployment to the far east. Its return resulted in scandal as a search for contraband took place. A Commission of Inquiry into the incident resulted in the dismissal of several officers (with commissions withdrawn and others retired) and the compulsory retirement of Rear Admiral de Mel, who was thereafter implicated in anattempt military coup d'étatin 1962.

Stagnation

In the aftermath of the attempted coup, the armed forces saw major budget cuts that dramatically halted the expansion it enjoyed in the 1950s. UnderN. Q. Dias,theMinistry of External Affairs and Defencechanged its defence policy taking steps to prevent a further coup attempts. Joint operations among armed services were stopped, with the army to focused on internal security and the role of the navy was scaled down. As a result, several of its ships were sold off and its size reduced by the stoppage of recruitment of officers cadets and sailors for over seven years, the loss of important bases and barracks and the stoppage of training in the United Kingdom. Two batches of 300 ratings were recruited in 1966 and 1969.

Insurrection

Main article:1971 JVP Insurrection

As a result, in 1971 the navy was poorly equipped and short of personnel when the1971 JVP Insurrectionbroke out. RCyN had only one warship, HMCySGajabahuwhich was not put to sea as its crew were dispatched with other naval personnel for shore duty. RCyN initially mounted the defence of ports and thereafter carryout offensive counterinsurgency operations against the insurgents. During the insurrection navy suffered its first combat casualties and went on to man detention centres to rehabilitate surrendered insurgents after it was crushed in a few months. Ceylon, however, had to rely on theIndian Navyto established an exclusion zone around the island.

With the JVP insurrection, the Government felt the limitations of the RCyN and the need to strengthen the navy. ThePeople's Republic of Chinagifted twoType 062-class gunboatand these were commissioned in February 1972, while three more were ordered.

Navy of the Republic

Sri Lanka Navy Ensign.

In July 1972 the "Dominion of Ceylon" became the "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka" and the Royal Ceylon Navy became theSri Lanka Navy.Theensign,along with the Flag Officers' flags, were redesigned. The term "Captain of the Navy", introduced in the Navy Act, was changed to "Commander of the Navy", in keeping with the terminology adopted by the other two services. Finally, "Her Majesty's Ceylon Ships" (HMCyS) became "Sri Lankan Naval Ships" (SLNS).

SLN received three more Type 062-class gunboats in December 1972, while theUSSRgifted aShershen-class torpedo boatin 1975. These gunboats allowed the SLN to carry out effective coastal patrolling and several cruises to regional ports. New bases were established to counter smuggling operations in the coastal areas. Five inshore patrol crafts were ordered from Cheverton, while six coastal patrol craft were built by the Colombo Dockyards.

Civil war

Main article:Sri Lankan Civil War

SLNSSamudura,fast gun boats and troopshipJetLinerin the Colombo harbour.

Sri Lanka Navy personnel onIndependence Dayparade.

At the begin of the civil war in the 1980s the navy found itself poorly equipped to face the new threats theLTTEcreated. It found itself engaging in anti-smuggling operations to counter LTTE gun running between India and Sri Lanka. As the larger gun boats proved ineffective against faster small boats used by the LTTE with outboard motors, the navy began deploying small boats withwaterjetsand inshore patrol boats armed with machine guns to police its waters. The LTTE responded with mounting machine guns and attacking the navy boats. This began anasymmetric warat sea, taking place primarily in the coastal waters among small boats of the navy and the LTTE naval arm theSea Tigers.The decades long conflict saw the escalation of the size, firepower and speed of the boats with new techniques deployed by both sides. The Sea Tigers mastered the art of using sophisticatedsuicide craftsagainst naval vessels both small and large. The navy acquired in the late 1980s IsraeliDvora-class fast patrol boatswhich it designated as Fast Attack Crafts (FAC). The FACs of theFast Attack Flotillabecame the workhorses of the navy's offensive and defensive operations against the Sea Tigers. In the 1990s and 2000sSuper Dvora classboats were added and a locally builtColombo classwas introduced in larger numbers. These proved highly successful in limiting the LTTE's use of the seas.

During the war the navy increased its fleet of larger vessels by introducing two locally builtJayasagara classoffshore patrol vessels and purchasing several more Type 062-class gunboats. The navy lost several ships in the 1990s to Sea Tiger attacks by suicide crafts such as in the sinking ofSLNSSagarawardenaandSLNSRanaviruand the use of suicide frogmen such as in thebombing of SLNSSoorayaand SLNSRanasuru.Due to the threat posed by the Sea Tigers, the navy had to undertakeconvoy dutyto escort shipping to the Jaffna peninsula to which all land routes were controlled by the LTTE. In order keep supply lines open to Jaffna, the navy employed several auxiliary ships. It also deployed auxiliary ships to support FACs.

In the early 1980s a land combat force named Naval Patrolmen was created which at first limited itself to base defence and, as its numbers increased, took part in offensive operations against theLTTEalong with the Sri Lankan Army. An elite naval special forces unit called theSpecial Boat Squadronwas created in the late 1980s based on the BritishSpecial Boat Service.

In order to support ground operations of the army, landing ships and boats were acquired. In early 1990s the SLN carried out in conjunction with the army its firstamphibious operationcode namedOperation Sea Breezefollowed by the largerOperation Balavegayaa year later and on the seas it began an aggressive clamp down on LTTE actives including gunrunning. In 1992, AdmiralW.W.E. Clancy Fernando,the commander of the navy was assassinated by asuicide bomb attackby the LTTE.

The mid-1990s saw a slow expansion of larger fleet assets with addition of newer Type 062-class gun boats and aHaiqing classsubmarine chaserbeing added to the fleet to intercept arms shipments destined for the Tigers within Sri Lankan territorial waters. In 2000 the Navy started afleet air arm(FAA) by acquiring a HAL Chetak from India to expand its surveillance capability by operating from newly acquiredOffshore Patrol Vessels.During the same timeconventional warfarecapability was increased by the addition ofSa'ar 4-class missile boats.In 2004, the navy received aReliance-class cutterfrom the United States Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program.

Following the resumption of hostilities between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE since early 2006, the navy took up an active role in limiting the LTTE's use of the seas. This resulted in several major sea battles occurring during the course of 2006, 2007 and 2009. Most significant of the events during this time was the interception and sinking of several large cargo ships that were bringingillegal arms shipmentsto the LTTE in theIndian Oceanin international waters (Sri Lanka Navy anti arms smuggling operations). These naval operations have proven theblue watercapability of the Sri Lankan Navy.

During the war the navy, along with the army, developed its own weapons development programmes to produce and maintain weapon systems suited for indigenous requirements in collaboration withColombo Dockyardwhich included theJayasagara class,Colombo classand theRanavijaya class;while the navy designed and developed theArrow class.

Major combat operations

Apart from continued deployments at sea the navy has played a significant role in supporting all major operations carried out by theArmyincluding several amphibious operations.

1971 JVP Insurrection(1971–1972) Eelam War I(1976–1987) Vadamarachchi Operation JVP Uprising(1987–1990) Eelam War II(1990–1995) Operation Sea Breeze (Sri Lanka) Operation Thrividha Balaya Operation BalavegayaI, II

Eelam War III(1995–2002) Operation Riviresa Operation Thrivida Pahara Operation Jayasikurui Operation Kinihira I, II, III/IV, V/VI, VII, VIII, IX

Eelam War IV(2006–2009) Eastern Theatre Northern Theatre Anti arms smuggling operations in the Indian Ocean

After the war

SLNS Gajabahu (P626),SLNS Sayurala (P623)andSLNS Sindurala (P624)during 2022 Colombo Naval Exercise.SLNS Samudura (P261)also visible in the distance.

With the end of the civil war, the navy has begun reorienting itself for the future defence of the island. This has led to force redeployment, training exercises and transfer of certain duties to the newly formedSri Lanka Coast Guard.In the post war years the navy has expanded its maritime operations to fisheries control and to counter human trafficking. Operations to counter illegal poaching by Tamil Nadu fishermen have led to allegations that personnel from the Sri Lanka Navy have attacked more than twelve fishermen, two of whom have died, in a series of disputes.Australia transferred twoBay-class patrol boatsto the Sri Lanka Navy, following its Prime Minister's visit to the island for theCommonwealth Heads of Government Meetingin November 2013.The first of these vessels was delivered in April 2014.

Blue water navy

The U.S. 7th Fleet flagshipUSS Blue Ridgemanoeuvres into formation with SLNS Sayura and SLNS Samudura.

Expanding its blue water capability the navy began commissioning larger fleet assets equivalent to Patrol frigates, which it termed asAdvanced Offshore Patrol Vessels.In April and August 2018 two 105m long vessels of theSaryu-classwere commissioned. Built byGoa Shipyardon order to the Sri Lanka navy, these were the largest purpose built ships for the Sri Lanka Navy.

In 2017, SLNSSayuralatook part in Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) International Fleet Review 2017 inThailand.This is the longest foreign tour (21 days) an SLN Ship undertook after the year 1965 with 127 sailors including 18 officers.This followed in 2018 by SLNSSagarawhich sailed toIndonesiato attend the Multilateral Naval Exercise “Komodo” and “International Fleet Review” (IFR) 2018,while SLNSSamuduraand SLNSSuranimalasailed to India to take part inMilan.The navy participated inExercise RIMPACfor the first time in 2018, sending a contingent of marines to the international maritime exercise.

In August 2018, the navy took over aHamilton-classhigh endurance cutterwhich was transferred to the Navy from United States under the EDA program. Commissioned in June 2019 as an Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel, it became the largest combat vessel in the Sri Lankan navy at 3250 tonnes and second former United States cutter in its service.

In June 2019, the navy took over aType 053H2G frigatewhich was transferred to the Navy from China. It will be armed withdual Type 79 100 mm naval gunsand twoType 76A dual-37 mm anti-aircraft gunsto function as an Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessel.

In August 2021, the navy dispatched itsLanding Ship, TankSLNSShakthito sail to thePort of Chennaito sealift urgently needed medical grade oxygen needed for theCOVID-19situation in the island.On 26 October 2021, the navy formally took over the second Hamilton-class high endurance cutter transferred from the United States at theUSCG Station Seattleunder the EDA program. It is due to reach its home port in 2022, following a seven-month refit in Seattle.

Sri Lanka Navy Marines new locally made Combat All-Terrain Vehicles (CATVs)

In March 2022, the Government of Sri Lanka signed several defence agreements with the Government of India which included the establishment of aMaritime Rescue Coordinating Centreon an Indian grant as well as the acquisition ofDornier 228maritime reconnaissance aircraft to the Sri Lanka Air Force to operate with naval personnel. A 4,000 tonfloating dockconstructed byGoa Shipyardwas also acquired as part of a grant from India, to facilitate repair and maintenance of larger fleet units based at Trincomalee instead of having to depend dry dock facilities in Colombo.

In January 2024, the President of Sri Lanka announced plans to deploy a navy ship to theRed Seato join the maritime coalition defending shipping against increased attacks byHouthirebels in Yemen.The navy has decided to deploy one of its fiveAdvanced Offshore Patrol Vesselsto the Red Sea as part ofOperation Prosperity Guardian.

Current deployments

As of present, most of the Sri Lankan Navy is deployed for domestic defence with the end of combat operations, while foreign deployments are carried out from time to time.

Domestic

Due to theSri Lankan Civil Warthe navy has been on a constant mobilized (includingreservist) state since the 1980s (except for a brief period from 2002 to 2005). The majority of the naval units both at sea and ground-based are deployed in the North and Eastern provinces of the country, as well as in other parts of the country. The security of all major ports of the country is the responsibility of the navy, due to terrorist activity.Fisheries protectionin the territorial waters and theExclusive economic zone of Sri Lanka.

Foreign

• Haiti- Since 2004 navy personnel have been attached to the Sri Lankan contingent of theUnited Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti.
• Red Sea- Since January 2024, the navy has deployed a ship as part of theOperation Prosperity Guardian.

Command, control and organisation

Command structure of the Sri Lanka Navy.

The professional head of the navy is theCommander of the Navy(C of N) who reports directly to the Minister of Defence. The Commander of the Navy exercises operational and administrative control of the Navy fromNaval HeadquartersinSLNS Parakrama,Colombo.He is assisted by theChief of Staff(C of S); who along with Directors General and Directors comprise theBoard of Management(BOM) andBoard of Directors(BOD) of the Sri Lanka Navy.

Leadership

Post	Rank	Incumbent
Commander of the Navy	Vice Admiral	Priyantha Perera
Chief of Staff	Rear Admiral	Pradeep Rathnayake
Deputy Chief of Staff	Rear Admiral	Vacant

Board of Management

The following posts make up the Board of Management:

• Director General Operations
• Director General Health Services
• Director General Logistics
• Commandant Volunteer Naval Force
• Director General Budget & Finance
• Director General Personnel
• Director General Administration
• Director General Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Director General Training
• Director General Engineering
• Director General Civil Engineering
• Director General Services
• Naval Assistant to The Commander of The Navy

Commands

The Naval Areas of Operations. Note that the Southern and Eastern areas overlap (stripes).

The Navy has sevencommandsknown as Naval Area Commands, each under the control of aflag officerfor effective command and administrative control. This is in order to efficiently maintain all ships, crafts and vehicles; and to ensure the operational readiness of commands and units each area shall have its own harbour/ base, repair and refitting facilities, signal centres, logistic, civil engineering and medical facilities.

Seven Naval Area Commands(see image to the right)

• Northern Naval Area (NNA)
• North Central Naval Area (NCNA)
• North Western Naval Area (NWNA)
• Western Naval Area (WNA)
• Southern Naval Area (SNA)
• Eastern Naval Area (ENA)
• South Eastern Naval Area (SENA)

Units

• 3rd Fast Gun Boats Squadron (3 FGS)
• 4th Fast Attack Flotilla(4 FAF)
• 7th Surveillance Command Squadron
• Special Boat Squadron
• Rapid Action Boat Squadron
• Sri Lanka Marine Corps
• Naval Boat Building Yard

Branches

Members of the Sri Lanka Navy Band perform at Mattur Public Grounds during a community relations event in 2018.

Sri Lanka Navy consists following branches to which personnel are attached to;

• Executive Branch
  • Navigationand Direction
  • Communications
  • Gunnery
  • Missiles
  • Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW)
  • Diving
  • Hydrography
• Engineering Branch
• MedicalBranch
• LogisticsBranch
• Electrical&ElectronicsEngineering Branch
• Naval Patrolman Branch
• Information Technology Branch
• Musical Branch
• Legal Branch
• Provost Branch

Training

Sri Lankan Navy divers and their US counterparts during a joint diving exercise in theApra Harboroff the coast of Guam

Main article:Military academies in Sri Lanka

At the formation of the Royal Ceylon Navy in 1950, it looked to theRoyal Navyto its training in the formational years. Navel rating training was initiated locally with Royal Navy instructors atRoyal Naval Dockyard, Trincomaleewhile officer cadets and specialist training took place in the United Kingdom. Initial batches of officer cadets were sent toBritannia Royal Naval College,along with specialized training at trade schools of the Royal Navy, while senior officers were sent to theRoyal Naval College, Greenwichand to theRoyal College of Defence Studies.Following the resuspension of recruitment following the suspension from 1962 to 1967, theNaval and Maritime Academywas established for basic officer training. With the rapid expansion of the Sri Lankan armed forces in the 1980s and 1990s saw the establishment of local specialist and trade schools in the navy, along with staff colleges and a defence university. At present the Director General Training directs all naval training establishments.

All pre-commissioning training for officers are carried out at theNaval and Maritime Academy(NMA) at the SLN Dockyard inTrincomaleeand short/specialised officer training is conducted at the SLNS Gemunu, Welisara. This training includes theoretical aspects covered at the training institute followed by a practical exposure on board the Sri Lanka Navy fleet at sea. The Naval & Maritime Academy also has specialist schools for training areas such asASW,diving,medicine,combat,NBCDand sniper. It also conducts the Sub Lieutenant Technical Course for newlycommissioned officers,the Junior Naval Staff Course forstaff officersand the Long Logistics Management Course (LLMC) forlogistics officersof the navy. TheGeneral Sir John Kotelawala Defence University(KDU) formed in 1981 and situated in Ratmalana, fourteen kilometres south of Colombo, is Sri Lanka's only university specialising in defence studies. Apart from postgraduate defence studies each year, approximately fifty cadets from all three services are admitted to the university (aged 18–22) to participate in a three-year programme of under graduate studies.

Senior officersof the ranks ofLieutenant CommanderandCommanderfollow theCommand and Staff Courseat theDefence Services Command and Staff College(DSCSC) at Batalanda, Makola which allows officers to gain a Masters Of Science (Defence Studies) degree from the KDU. Senior officers destined forflag rankattend the prestigiousNational Defence College(NDC) inColombowhich is the highest level of training leading to a Master of Philosophy from the KDU. The navy continuous to send its senior officers for overseas training.

Basic training for new recruits (approximately six months) are conducted at Advanced Naval Training Centre, SLNS 'Nipuna'; Naval Institute of Technology, SLNS 'Thakshila', Welisara; and at Naval Recruit Training Centres at several shore establishments. This basic training will be followed byon-the-jobtraining on-board fleet units and at shore establishments. Combat Training School at SLNS 'Pandukabaya' conducts combat training forNaval Patrolmen.

Additional training is carried out inUK,India,PakistanandAustralia.

Main training establishments

• Naval & Maritime Academy- SLN Dockyard
• Advanced Naval Training Centre - SLNSNipuna
• Naval Artificer Training Institute - SLNSThakshila
• Naval Recruit Training Centre - SLNSShiksha
• Naval Recruit Training Centre/Combat Training School - SLNSPandukabaya

Current fleet

Main article:List of Sri Lanka Navy equipment

See also:List of historic ships of the Sri Lanka Navy

The Sri LankanNaval fleetconsists of above 250 combat, support ships and inshore patrol craft, with most originating from the United States, China, India, Israel. WhileNaval Boat Building Yard,Colombo Dockyardprovide locally.

Ships

Type	Vessels	Image
Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels equivalent to traditionalpatrol frigates	SLNSGajabahu SLNSSayurala SLNSSindurala SLNSParakramabahu SLNSVijayabahu
Offshore Patrol Vessels Deployed on the high seas to carry out surveillance and interception of illegal arms smuggling and to monitor naval activity within theEEZ.	SLNSSayura SLNSSamudura SLNSSagara
Fast Missile Vessels	added to the SLN in 2001 when two IsraeliSaar 4classmissile boatswere acquired. These vessels, which are referred to as theNandimithraclass and are equipped withGabriel IIanti-ship missiles,increased the SLN's conventional warfare capability and provide a multi-role platform for different operations undertaken by the navy.
Fast Gun Boats(FGB)	carry out a multi-role missions from coastal patrols to shore bombardment in support of amphibious operations. FGBs consist of ships from the ChineseLushunclass,HaizhuiclassandShanghai IIclass.	-
Patrol Boats	Bay-class patrol boatsare the latest type of craft to be added to the fleet. They were given to Sri Lanka by the Australian government in 2013, to help the Sri Lanka Navy's efforts to reduce smuggling and other illegal trafficking. The first of these was delivered in April 2014. They were commissioned in July 2014 as SLNS Rathnadeepa and SLNS Mihikatha.
Fast Attack Craft	They are primarily deployed in offensive operations for thedenial of sea,they were also used for defensive operations to prevent Sea Tigersuicide craftfrom attacking both naval and civilian ships by operating as escorts. There are several classes of FACs in SL Navy. Super Dvora Mk III Super Dvora Mk II Dvora - Mk I Shaldag class Colombo class
Inshore Patrol Craft	Inshore Patrol Craft are small vessels (14 metres long) which are capable of operating inshore as well as for beaching. They are capable of speeds in excess of 30 knots and are used forsmall boat operations,harbour defence and amphibious operations.		-
Littoral Attack Craft	Littoral Warfare Craft are small (7 metres long) and highly manoeuvrableArrowclass attack speedboats. They also have a high degree of firepower for vessels their size. Introduced in 2006, these boats are manufactured by the SLN's own boatyard and used by the eliteSpecial Boat Squadron(SBS) and theRapid Action Boat Squadron(RABS) forsmall boat operations.	-
Amphibious Warfare Vessels	The SLN has several vessels to support amphibious operations it carries out. These includeYuhaiclassTank landing shipSLNSShathi;Ranavijaya classutility landing crafts(Locally built);Yunnanclassmechanized landing craftsand anABS M-10Utility craft air cushion.
Auxiliary Vessels	The Navy also has severalauxiliary vesselssuch asfast personnel carriersandreplenishment ships.Fast personnel carriers arecatamaranswhich were used for both troop and civilian transport, running the gauntlet of LTTE suicide craft. SLNs fleet of non-commissioned underway replenishment ships have been used recently forreplenishment at seaininternational waters.

Main Naval Weapons Systems

• Gabriel-Anti-ship missile
• Oto Melara 76 mmnaval artillery
• PJ33A100 mm dual gunnaval artillery
• Typhoon- Naval Optronic Stabilized Weapon Platforms
• M242 Bushmaster-25 mm(25x137mm)chain-fedautocannon
• Naval variant of a locally developedguided missileand 40-barrel and 20-barrelMRLSto be soon installed on naval vessels

Naval exercises

Sri Lanka often conducts and participates in naval exercises with other friendly forces and countries designed to increase naval cooperation and also to strengthen cooperative security relationships.

SLNS Sindurala and INS Sumedha during SLINEX 2019

Exercise	Navy/Navies/Air Forces	First Edition	Last Edition	Total Editions	Notes/ References
CONEX	Sri Lanka Coast Guard,Sri Lanka Air Force	2019	2023	5
SLINEX	Indian Navy	2012	2022	9
Exercise Dosti	Indian Coast Guard,Maldives National Defence Force		2024	16

Marine battalion

Main article:Sri Lanka Marine Corps

Sri Lankan Marines in an amphibious capabilities demonstration during the Sri Lanka Marine Corps Boot Camp graduation at Sri Lankan Naval Station Barana in Mullikulum, Sri Lanka, Feb. 27, 2017.

In 2016, the Sri Lanka Navy formed its firstbattalionofMarinesspecializing inamphibious warfare.The unit started training under the assistance of the11th Marine Expeditionary Unitof theUnited States Marine Corpsin November 2016 and received further training from theCommando RegimentofSri Lanka Army.

The first group consisting of 164 Marines, consisting of 6 officers and 158 sailors, passed out on 27 February 2017 from Naval Base SLNS Barana in Mullikulam in a ceremony attended by the PresidentMaithripala Sirisena,and the Commander of the Navy Vice AdmiralRavindra Wijegunaratnealongside the tri-force Commanders and other senior officers. On July 29, 2017, Vice Admiral Wijegunarathna opened the new Marine Headquarters, SLNS Vidura inSampoor,Trincomalee.

Personnel

Parama Weera Vibhushanaya recipients

TheParama Weera Vibhushanayais the highest award for valour awarded in the Sri Lankan armed forces. Navy recipients include;

• Lieutenant CommanderJude Lakmal Wijethunge†
• Chief Petty OfficerK. G. Shantha†

Notable fallen members

Over 23,790 Sri Lankan armed forces personnel were killed since the start of the civil war in 1981 to its end in 2009, this includes 2admiralskilled in active duty or assassinated.659 service personnel were killed due to the second JVP insurrection from 1987 to 1990. 53 service personnel were killed and 323 were wounded in the first JVP insurrection from 1971 to 1972.Notable fallen members includes;

• AdmiralW.W.E. Clancy Fernando†- Commander of the Navy
• Rear admiralMohan Jayamaha†- Commander, Northern Naval Area

Women

Women in the Sri Lanka Navy were taken by the help ofWomen's Royal Naval Service (Britain)in 1985;however, for women in the Sri Lanka Navy, there is no separate branch or department. Women can join both as officers and sailors.

Today women are recruited to both the regular andvolunteerforces. Although at first limited to the medical branch, currently females are able to join any branch of the navy. In 2007, the navy appointed its first-ever femaleCommodore,Surgeon Commodore Indranee Y. Amarasinghe.

Ranks

Main article:Military ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Navy

The following tables present the military ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Navy. These ranks generally correspond with those of Western or Commonwealth Nations militaries, and reflect those of the British warrant officer, non-commissioned officer and enlisted ranks and the Commissioned officer ranks. Sri Lanka does have an Admiral rank, but it is usually only awarded to theChief of Defence Staff(CDS) or as an honorary rank.

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Sri Lanka Navy
	Admiral of the fleet		Admiral		Vice admiral		Rear admiral		Commodore		Captain		Commander		Lieutenant commander		Lieutenant		Sub-lieutenant			Midshipman

Other ranks

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Sri Lanka Navy																											No insignia								No insignia
	Master chief petty officer						Fleet chief petty officer		Chief petty officer		Petty officer												Leading seaman				Able seaman								Seaman recruit

Future of Sri Lanka Navy

The Sri Lanka Navy set a medium-term fleet expansion goal targeting ten new vessels in its 'Sri Lanka Navy 2025' plan as part of its expansion ofblue wateroperations.

According to the Maritime Doctrine of Sri Lanka (MDSL) published in 2020, the establishment ofNaval Aviationconsisting of helicopters and drones have been proposed and initial steps have been taken.

Naval variant of a locally developedguided missileand 40-barrel and 20-barrelMRLSto be soon installed on naval vessels.

The Navy planned to purchase a locally constructed 110m OPV and 10 45m Fast Patrol Boats from the Colombo Dockyard PLC, alongside a 95.6m corvette from China. However, the plans were suspended in 2022 due to the lack of funds and instead the navy decided to obtain similar vessels for free from friendly countries. In January 2024 the United States deputy secretary of state for management and resourcesRichard R. Vermastated that the US will provide another Offshore Patrol Vessel to the Sri Lanka Navy.

See also

• Military of Sri Lanka
• Commander of the Navy (Sri Lanka)
• Military ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Navy
• Fast Attack Flotilla
• Special Boat Squadron (Sri Lanka)
• Rapid Action Boat Squadron
• Naval and Maritime Academy
• Hoods Tower Museum
• Sri Lankan Civil War
• Sri Lanka portal

External links

• Official website
• Ministry of Defence Sri Lanka
• General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy