Naval and Maritime Academy

Updated on Oct 29, 2023

Edit

Comment

Country Sri Lanka Nickname(s) NMA Motto Moulding future Admirals		Type Training Headquarters Trincomalee, Sri Lanka

Active 15 January 1967 – present Role Officer and Sailor Training Garrison/HQ SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee Similar General Sir John Kotelawal, Maradana College of Technology, Ceylon University College, Buddhasravaka Bhiksu University, Buddhist and Pali University

Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee, is the location of initial officer training in the Sri Lanka Navy, and is located within SLN Dockyard, Trincomalee. It received university status in 2001.

History

The Sri Lanka Naval and Maritime Academy was established on 15 January 1967, and was subsequently commissioned on 15 July 1967 with Instructor Commander M. G. S. Perera as the first Commandant, taking over responsibility for officer training from the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth, England.

As well as initial officer training the NMA conducts Sub Lieutenant Technical Courses for Executive, Logistic and NPM branch officers, in addition to training other officer grades such as Direct Entry (Degree holders), Service Entry & Short Service commissioned schemes. The Officer Cadet Entry scheme has been accredited to the University of Kelaniya since 2001. The academy at present is accredited to Kotalawala Defence University, and is expanding to meet the naval and national demands.

All officer trainees who undergo the stipulated programme receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Naval and Maritime Studies, Naval Studies and Naval Logistics Management.

NMA also conducts the Long Logistics Management Course which is the first ever long specialization course leading to a MBA degree. It also regularly conducts an 18 week long Junior Naval Staff Course. In 2015 a long specialization course for middle level executive officers in the fields of Navigation, Communication, Gunnery and ASW was begun. Training for naval ratings encompasses phase III and advanced training courses comprised with branch training, specialization training, mechanical and technical training.

NMA hold the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Certification awarded by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution in 2007. This was upgraded to ISO 9001:2008 in 2010. In recognition of its service rendered over the years, the NMA was awarded with the prestigious President's Colours in 2003.

ASW School

The first course for UC/UW III trainees was conducted on 8 February 1993 under the command of the OIC Nautical School. On 7 May 2002, ASW School was established and first OIC was LCdr D. A. S. Pothupitiya. The school imparts practical and theoretical knowledge pertaining to undersea warfare in order to produce under water warfare specialized sailors and officers for Sri Lanka Navy.

Diving school

The school was established on 16 June 1996 and producing well qualified divers not only to the Sri Lanka Navy, but also conducting courses for officers and soldiers of Special Force and Commando Regiments of Sri Lanka Army. The first OIC of the school was LCdr (CDO) U. V. M. P. Perera.

Medical Assistants Training School

This school was established on 21 May 1998 at old library building and is capable of conducting basic nursing courses for medical branch sailors. The first OIC of the school was Lt (WM) V. A. D. N. Edward.

Combat Training Unit

The school was established near Waterloo junction on 23 October 2003 and conducts courses for patrolmen branch officers and sailors, and a combat module for all other officers and sailors. The first OIC of the school was of LCdr (NP) K. G. N. Ranaweera.

NBCD School

The Nuclear Biological Chemical Defence and fire fighting and damage control school was established on 7 March 2006. The first OIC of the school was LCdr (E) D. M. N. A. Dassanayake.

Naval Marksmanship & Sniper Training School

The school was established on 18 December 2006 at Waterloo junction and subsequently shifted to its present location at Shoebury junction on 18 December 2007. This school is capable of producing snipers for the Sri Lanka Navy. Lt (NP) K. P. N. G. Kariyawasam was the first OIC of the school.

Intakes

There are several intakes for cadet officers and midshipmen annually. These are under the following category:

Cadet Entry Degree Programme

B.Sc. in Naval Studies (University of Kelaniya)

Navy Officer cadets from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (last year)

Cadet Entry Non-Degree Programme

KDU Entry (General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University)

Direct Entry Stream to the Regular Force – for professionals (Doctors, IT specialists, Engineers, etc.)

Volunteer Stream – Officers for the Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force

Service Entry – for serving ratings

Degrees conducted by the NMA

These degrees are accredited to the University of Kelaniya:

Bachelor of Science Naval Studies in Maritime Warfare

Bachelor of Science Naval Studies in Land Warfare

Bachelor of Science Naval Studies in Logistic Management

Commandants

Commander M. G. S. Perera — Founder and former Director, Naval Training.

Rear Admiral Sunil Ranjan Samaratunga RSP, VSV, USP, SLN

Admiral H. A. de Silva VSV, ndc, psc, SLN — former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy

Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc SLN — former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy

Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe, RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc, DISS, MNI, SLN — former Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy

Rear Admiral Susith Weerasekara RSP, VSV, USP, ndu, psn, MSc. (DS) Mgmt, DISS, DIDSS — present Deputy Chief of staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, under whose tenure (in 2003) the NMA received the President's colour

Notable alumni

Lieutenant-Commander Jude Lakmal Wijethunge, PWV, SLN †

Admiral D. W. K. Sandagiri VSV, USP, rcds, ndc, psc, JP SLN — Commander of the Navy (2001–2005)

Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda RSP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc SLN — Commander of the Navy (2005–2009)

Rear Admiral Mohan Jayamaha, RWP, VSV, USP, psc, SLN † — Commander Northern Naval Area

Rear Admiral Frank Quintus Wickramaratne, VSV — Chief of Staff Sri Lanka Navy (1989-1992) (also served as Training Commander of the Naval and Maritime Academy)

References

Naval and Maritime Academy Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

Contents