23 Facts About Thisara Samarasinghe

Thisara Samarasinghe had a distinguished 36-year career in the Sri Lankan Navy.

Thisara Samarasinghe's career included a wide range of key appointments at sea and ashore, including training in the United Kingdom, India and the United States.

Thisara Samarasinghe won Royal College Colours in Athletics as a sprinter.

Thisara Samarasinghe achieved the highest position of regimental sergeant major of the National Cadet Corps in 1973.

Thisara Samarasinghe won the Best Commander's Prize in 1972 receiving the award from Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike.

Finally Thisara Samarasinghe was selected as a senior prefect of Royal College.

On leaving school, Thisara Samarasinghe joined Lever Brothers as a Trainee Executive.

Thisara Samarasinghe is married to Malathie, an educationist, with a daughter Nadeesha and a son Harith.

Thisara Samarasinghe went on to complete his basic training at Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as a Midshipmen and graduated in 1976 winning the Best International Midshipman Award along with appointment as Divisional Sub Lieutenant.

Thisara Samarasinghe had served on board Short Patrol Craft, Long Patrol Craft and in command of one of the first two Dvora - Mk I Fast Attack Crafts in 1985 that would later make up the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla.

Thisara Samarasinghe was appointed as the first director of general services in 2004 while concurrently holding the appointments of director of naval projects and plans; naval assistant to Commander of the Navy and principal staff officer of the Joint Operations Headquarters under the Chief of Defence Staff.

Thisara Samarasinghe has led naval delegations to India, Russia, Israel and the US on bilateral issues.

Thisara Samarasinghe was selected to be a member of presidential and prime ministerial delegations on state visits to Indonesia and Libya respectively.

In May 2008, Thisara Samarasinghe was appointed Chief of Staff of the Navy.

Thisara Samarasinghe, who was incidentally a distinguished graduate of the same Naval War College, having attended the Naval Staff Course in 1991, was further recognized and honoured when he was invited by the United States Navy Chief to address the forum attended by 96 heads of navies and naval delegates of 20 countries.

Thisara Samarasinghe's address earned high praise by the Chief of the United States Navy and all others present at the symposium, where he encapsulated the way ahead for 'Leveraging Cooperative Effort to Enhance Maritime Security Operations' by using a seven-step approach.

Sri Lanka Navy under the leadership of Thisara Samarasinghe created history when 19 navies around the globe, including 5 permanent members of United Nations, visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of Thisara Samarasinghe to participate at the 60th-anniversary celebration of the Sri Lanka Navy 7 to 11 December 2010 honouring Sri Lanka.

Thisara Samarasinghe was awarded Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry in combat, the service medals Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya in recognition of his devotion and dedication to the country with and unblemished career record, Uttama Seva Padakkama for meritorious and distinguished service, the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal and other medals that include the Purna Bhumi Padakkama and the North and East Operations Medal.

Thisara Samarasinghe is a recipient of 5 commendation letters from four commanders of the navy for his outstanding performance throughout the long career.

In July 2010, Thisara Samarasinghe was presented with a certificate of appreciation of the Government of Australia for the support and assistance rendered by efficient methods adopted to prevent human smuggling from the shore of Sri Lanka.

In May 2011, Thisara Samarasinghe was appointed as Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to Australia and commenced official duties from 28 July 2011.

On 5 September 2011, speaking at the Australian Institute of International Affairs, High Commissioner Thisara Samarasinghe stated that despite allegations made by various parties regarding the denial of humanitarian assistance to the people of the North of Sri Lanka during the last phase of the conflict, he was personally involved in coordinating the delivery of humanitarian assistance during that period.

In October 2011, while serving as High Commissioner to Australia, Thisara Samarasinghe was accused of war crimes by the International Commission of Jurists for his role in the final offensives against the Tamil Tigers.