Sarath Ratnakeerthi

Who is 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