Born in 1962, Wijegunaratne was educated at the Royal College, Colombo from 1969.[8][9] At Royal College, he was a President's Scout, Lance sergeant of the Herman Loos Cadet Platoon and a School Prefect in addition to representing the school in both hockey and basketball, as well as being an All-Island Junior Athletics Champion.[9] He was the fourth Royalist to be appointed Commander of the SLN.[9]
Starting out as a Sub-lieutenant, Admiral Wijegunaratne gained early exposure to the Sri Lankan Civil War fighting alongside India's MARCOS in the Indian Peace Keeping Force's 1987 Operation Pawan.[8] Having been promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, he founded Sri Lanka's elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) in 1993, building on the work done by Lieutenant commander Shanthi Bahar.[8][10] Wijegunaratne led the SBS during the Battle of Pooneryn and held its command twice through his career, once in 1993-1994 and again in 1999-2000.[8] As a result of his specialization and work in the SBS, he is regarded as an expert in asymmetric naval warfare and small boat operations.[8] Between June 2005 and March 2006, he served as Commanding Officer of the SLN's flagship at that time, SLNS Sayura. He was also instrumental in forming the Sri Lanka Navy Marines.[8]
Promoted to the rank of Commodore, and then to Rear Admiral in 2009,[11] Wijegunaratne has held several appointments and commands within the Sri Lanka Navy:
As Director Naval Operations in 2007, he oversaw the SLN's efforts to halt Sea Tiger arms smuggling, leading to the elimination of what are thought to be the LTTE's four final floating armouries.[8]
He was appointed the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy on 7 July 2014, and promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed Commander of the Navy on 11 July 2015.[8] On 22 February 2016, President Maithripala Sirisena granted him a six-month service extension as commander.[8]
On 18 August 2017, Wijegunaratne was promoted to the rank of admiral and appointed Chief of Defense Staff in light of his upcoming retirement from active service.[2] He assumed duties as CDS on 22 August 2017.[12]
On 13 February 2019, Admiral Wijegunaratne was awarded the Nishan-e-Imtiaz (Military) Medal by the President of Pakistan in Islamabad.[14][15]
Personal life
Wijegunaratne is married to Yamuna De Saram and has one son, Satyajith.[8] He has been a keen sportsman since his childhood, and is a qualified diver and parachutist; a parachuting accident in 2001 led to Wijegunaratne breaking both legs.[8] In addition to playing hockey and basketball at school, he has represented the SLN in rugby, and rowing/sailing, both of which he has received Sri Lanka Navy Colours for.[8] He is an expert marksman, and has held the Chair of the Sri Lanka Rifle Association and the Sri Lanka Navy Golf Club.[6][8]
Controversy
Wijegunaratne was alleged to have threatened and assaulted a journalist during an SLN intervention during a violent dockworkers' strike at the Hambantota Port in December 2016[16][17]
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