The commissioning ceremony and passing out parade of 23 Midshipmen of Technical branches of the 35th and 36th intakes of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University were held at the main parade ground of the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee on Friday (30). Commander of the Navy Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera was the Chief Guest.
Midshipman S.H. Madanayake who was adjudged the Best Technical Midshipman, for his excellent performances during the training period, received his award from the Commander of the Navy.
Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera said that he was privileged to grace the occasion as the Chief Guest and congratulated the newly passed out officers. He asked young officers to uphold core values of the Sri Lanka Navy - Honour, Honesty, Integrity, Loyalty and Courage and underlined the importance of protecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the motherland.
The Navy Commander said that officers would face various challenges in their roles and must be prepared to make difficult decisions to lead their team effectively. Officers need to guide their team towards the desired objective and be ready to provide proper guidance when needed.
Navy Commander Perera said the enduring commitment of service personnel to prioritise the nation’s interests above their own, emphasizing that personal matters should always come second.
He highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance amid the fast-changing global circumstances. He underscored that parents and loved ones need to understand the unique and demanding responsibilities entrusted to young officers and he never forgot to express his profound gratitude to the parents of newly commissioned officers for giving their consent to these officers to pursue a prestigious career.
He commended the Commander Eastern Naval Area and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara for his cooperation as well as Commandant and Directing Staff of the Naval and Maritime Academy for undertaking a tremendous job in moulding these young officers.