Sarath Ratnakeerthi

Rear Admiral Sarath Ratnakeerthi VSV, usp, ndc, psc was Sri Lanka Navy's former Chief of Staff.

After completing his Primary education at Nalanda College Colombo,and his secondary education at Ananda College, Colombo he joined Sri Lanka Navy as a cadet officer on 1 August 1971He was promoted to the Rank of Midshipman on 1 August 1972.Cadet Officer Ratnakeerthi was commissioned on 1 August 1975 as a Sub Lieutenant. Thereafter he was gradually promoted to the ranks of Lieutenant, Lieutenant Commander, Commander, Captain, Commodore and finally Rear Admiral on 1 January 2002.

Rear Admiral Sarath Ratnakeerthi has the unique distinction of serving as the Area Commander of all five Naval Commands of the Sri Lanka Navy, namely Northern Naval Command, Western Naval Command, North-Central Naval Command, Eastern Naval Command and Southern Naval Command.

He has also served as the Commanding Officer of the Naval establishments, SLNS 'Ruhuna', SLNS 'Tissa', SLNS 'Gemunu' and also commanded Naval ships, SLNS 'Weeraya', SLNS 'Jayasagara', SLNS Edithara and SLNS Rakshaka. He served as the 4th officer onboard merchant vessel Lanka Kanthi in 1975 when this vessel was administrated by the Sri Lanka navy. being the first commanding officer of a Sr ilankan built vessel Admiral Rathnakeerthi Participated In the Fleet Review in Malaysia 1990 Onboard SLNS Jayasagara

Admiral Rathnakeerthi is a Highly decorated navy officer who has been awarded The Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, the Uttama Seva Padakkama service medals and several other service and campaign medals including the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama, Riviresa Campaign Services Medal, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal, President's Inauguration Medal and the 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal for his outstanding service to the country During the civil war against the brutal LTTE.

Admiral Sarath Rathnakeerthi is a specialized gunnery officer who had successfully completed his Long Gunnery course in India. His vast Knowledge and skills in Advanced naval weapon systems And Tactics has been utilized in many critical military hardware purchases with Israel, China and Indonesia and in many naval operations. Furthermore, Admiral Rathnakeerthi represented the commander of the Navy during the 17th international sea power symposium in USA 2005.

He is an alumnus of the Asia pacific centre for security studies, Hawaii USA 1998.Rear Admiral was graduated from the National Defence College course in India 2001 He passed the Naval staff course in PNS KARZAS IN KARACHCHI in 1988.He also participated the Pacific Area Special Operations conference which was held In Malaysia

Rear Admiral Rathnakeerthi Retired from the Navy on 16 July 2006 and was soon appointed as the Deputy Commissioner of Essential Services to carryout overall coordination of procurement on shipment of Essential food to North and to Monitor movements of ships/vessels carrying food and passengers to jaffna During The civil war.

After the military victory against the LTTE in 2009 Admiral Rathnakeerthi was appointed as the District operations officer to look after the operations in Jaffna District under the Presidential Task force For Resettlement, Development & Security .At Present Admiral Rathnakeerthi is working Closely With The G A Jaffna And Other Government authorities in order to develop and Rebuild The Jaffna Province Which Was Affected badly by the Civil War.