Rear Admiral Palitha Weerasinghe joined the Navy in 1981 together with 17 other mates in the 10th intake of Officer Cadets. On completion of the one year basic Naval training at the Naval & Maritime Academy (NMA) in Trincomalee, he marched forward untiringly to reach the helm of his branch ‘Naval Engineering’ in 2014.
During this span of 35 years he had been undergoing various phases hereditary to a Naval officer successfully.
His courage, knowledge, ability and trustworthiness paved the path for him to become the 10th officer to head the engineering branch of the Navy.
Subsequently to his basic naval training at NMA, Weerasinghe joined the Naval College of Engineering (NCE) of the Indian Navy to follow his professional studies in Marine Engineering.
He completed his studies successfully in 1986 and was conferred with B. Tech. Degree by the Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi in India.
He was a skilled squash player at NCE and was a popular squash partner among the allied officers.
As a fully pledged Naval officer specialising in Marine Engineering, he had served on board several ships and at various naval establishments around the island.
He had held many key appointments including Commodore Superintendent Naval Dockyard, Trincomalee, Deputy Director Marine Engineering, Director Marine Engineering and the Head of the Department of Mechanical and Marine Engineering of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University prior to taking up the appointment as the Director General Naval Engineering.
He was a well-known officer with great humanity and well recognised by his seniors, peers and subordinates alike.
Rear Admiral Palitha Weerasinge achieved his promotions to the ranks of Sub Lieutenant (E), Lieutenant (E), Lieutenant Commander (E), Commander (E), Captain (E), Commodore (E) and Rear Admiral well on due dates on recommendations made by his superiors.
In recognition of his unblemished decorative naval carrier, his professional knowledge and broad knowledge in naval and world affairs he was selected to follow ‘Naval staff Course’ at Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh in 1997.
He completed the course with high aggregate of marks and was awarded with Master Degree in ‘Defence Studies’ by Dhaka University and the title ‘psc’.
Rear Admiral Weerasinghe had shouldered the responsibility in providing technical recommendations on matters related to acquisitioning of ships and craft, plants and machinery, undertaking career development and administration of officers and men in the Engineering branch of the Navy.
He had visited many countries including Pakistan, Germany, India, China, Singapore, Egypt, Malaysia and Israel on various official missions during his 35 year Naval carrier.
His distinguished service, especially during the years when the storm clouds of war were seen brewing on the North and the East horizons was well recognised by the Naval authorities.
As a result, he was awarded many medals and clasps namely ‘Uttama Sewa Padakkam’ (USP) ‘Purna Bhumi Padakkama’, ‘Vadamarachchi Operational medal’, ‘Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Services medal’, 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration medal’, ‘Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary medal’, ‘North and East Operational medal’. In addition, he was a recipient of commendation badge, letters of commendation and appreciation by the Commander of the Navy in recognition to exceptional discharge of his duties and responsibilities to safe guard the unity, Integrity and sovereignty of mother Sri Lanka.
He was a distinguished sportsman who had represented the Sri Lanka Navy in Squash and Badminton for many years and recipient of navy colours. He was chairman for SLN and Defence Services Squash, Badminton and Tennis for nearly nine years.
Rear Admiral Palitha Weerasinghe had held the posts of President and Chairman of Sri Lanka Squash federation and Disciplinary Committee, Sri Lanka Badminton Association respectively. He is a talented poet and also an enthusiastic journalist. He was also a chief editor of the Naval periodical– ‘Prathipalaka’.
Rear Admiral Weerasinghe a product of Ananada College, Colombo, had performed well in his studies, co-curricular activities and in sports during his school days.
He is married to Upeka and has two daughters, Binuri and Thisandi.
He retired after serving the nation for 35 years.
Captain (Retd) Sarath de Silva, USP, psn Batchmate
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