Rear Admiral Frank N Quintus Wickramaratne VSV-by Maj. Gen. (Retd.) Lalin Fernando
Source:Island
He was like Sir Francis Drake ‘a fearful man’- to any miscreant. He was also a charmer like no other.
Rear Admiral Frank Wickramaratne died on Dec.3, 2025. He was trained (1959-61) at Britannia Royal Naval College (BRNC) Dartmouth, Devon, England where many intakes of SLN officer cadets, many of who excelled, and many more from Commonwealth and foreign countries were trained
Apart from his career highlights that covered much of the Eelam conflict and where he rose to be Chief of Staff after being Naval Officer in Charge Trincomalie and being Commander of Northern and Western Commands, he was also good at athletics, music and dancing and had an excruciating sense of humor. He spiced his words with rib tickling Sinhala idioms. He was described not without cause as ‘charming’ if not a charmer.
Few would have ever been at a funeral like Frank’s. The mood though somber and sad, had his friends reminiscing hilarious episodes of Frank’s life even though the end came suddenly with a not unexpected heart attack. He led a very full life devoted to his loving, close knit family amongst a happy circle of friends.
Frank leadership style combined integrity with discipline and moral courage to take hard decisions and most of all initiative many would have yearned to have, combined with concern for and unwavering pride in his subordinates .
He also had varied talents and unusual hobbies which kept him in good mental and physical condition well into retirement He liked to and could cook, (he was very hospitable too), dance (international and Kandyan), sing and also play musical instruments. He kept walking virtually until he died. He kept exotic birds and rare fish at considerable expense and labour. He even wrote his biography which he wisely, modestly and strictly restricted to his family circle.
While others, especially his Navy friends know him much better, my recollections of Frank never faded. I first met up when with two Sandhurst friends, Sena de Sylva and Noel Weerakoon (who was the first officer to be killed by the JVP in the 1971 Insurgency), we were in Copenhagen after our first Sandhurst cricket tour of British Army teams in Germany in the summer of 1959 .
On the first evening we drifted to an ‘International Club” where dancing and singing were taking place in a nearly packed hall. Shortly after we heard what appeared to be a Sinhala song. Intrigued we closed up to the band stand. There was Frank with mike in hand leading the band while singing nonstop in Sinhala to the applause of many and our justifiable pride.
Then came the BRNC Dartmouth cadets’ visit to Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst for a medley of sporting events including athletics. This included Frank. We got to know that having met the Sandhurst Commandant’s daughter he was invited for lunch. We had been guests of the Commandant after ‘Passing of the Square” too but ours was not graced by his daughter’s presence! Invitations to Frank were a mystery. They also included at least one invitation by Scandinavian royalty to dinner and a British upper class society ball.
He was also a super team man who with pride recollected the performances of his colleagues. His favourite appeared to be one who became the first Chief of Defence Staff from the Navy after a brilliant career starting from being the best Foreign Cadet at BRNC, Dartmouth.
He would often recall how SL naval cadets made a mark at Dartmouth. Apparently the Commandant was fascinated by the BRNC opening batsmen Ranjan Lecamvasam and Cyril Fernando. When they got out the Commandant left quietly. Mark Andriez (Benedectine?) was a gifted pianist. He would finish his sessions with a jazzed up version of ‘God Save the Queen’. If he had been a RN cadet he would have been charged with treason! Frank would recall ‘boat pulling’ before breakfast on river Dart in icy winter. This may have been why he would often be seen taking early morning walks almost up to the day he passed on.
Frank received navigation certificates after sea training from the Pakistan Navy. He was the first ever SL Navy officer to follow the USA Naval War College and Naval Staff College courses. He was highly commended by the President of both Colleges. His achievements were a credit to the professionalism of the SL Navy.
One incident stands out. By tradition a foreign officer on the course would host a party on his national day. Frank did what few would and could ever do think to do. All the guests were welcomed on arrival at his house by Frank in a magnificent Kandyan chief’s dress and his wife Kusum in Kandyan saree, to be greeted with a traditional ‘ayubowan’. While SL music was played, the guests were served traditional refreshments prepared by both.
Then came the show piece of the evening. There was a curtain covering a corner of the house. Frank excused himself for a while. Then to the clash of recorded cymbals and drums the curtain was drawn and Frank appeared in Kandyan dancing regalia and captivated his audience with a sparkling Kandyan dance.
In 1980 we both served in Jaffna. He was the Commanding Officer of SLNS Elara in Karainagar . I had a standing invitation for lunch on Sundays that included dishes especially varieties of fish, all prepared by him. I was introduced to Jaffna’s best. His favourite and mine later was Father Stanislaus a colourful Catholic priest who batted the hierarchy that had traces of caste
When my family visited Jaffna they were invited to lunch. My elder daughter had an accident while on the swings in his garden. Frank swung into action, got her into the Sick Bay and made sure a head wound was sutured without too much fuss or pain. Later when Frank’s family arrived from Trinco we were taken to legendary Nagadipa in a Naval craft. After seeing the temple and the kovil we were introduced to the Head Priest who not only briefed us but acted strangely as Frank predicted!
The time came for Frank to leave to Colombo for Navy day. He was looking forward to seeing Kusum who would came from Trincomalee. I asked him whether he was going by plane. He asked ‘what bloody plane’. I told him the SLAF had two flights every week and that he should request the SLAF Commanding Officer for a return seat. He did and was told that he had VIP status- all of which he did not know before, unlike us who were next door to the Air Force.
We met on the next Sunday after his return and he gave me a description of all the varied functions he had attend. However he had a problem. He showed me a letter he had written to Kusum. Apparently he had not had much time to spend with Kusum between being chief guest at many functions and attending official dinners etc. Kusum had summed it up by saying she thought he did not love her. His letter was one of repentence. Reading this I told him what he had to say was that he was sorry and that he loved and misses her. He agreed. It worked. Kusum did not know until 2024 that the letter had been a combined services operation, for once successful!
During the 1977 race riots a naval detachment under Frank from Trincomalee was sent to Seruvavila to bring order and peace there. On arrival the sailors very quickly found out who the miscreants were. They were detained. The chief priest of the temple interceded on their behalf expecting Frank to be impressed by his credentials as a favourite of the Government in power. Frank in turn lectured him that he and his men had come from very comfortable quarters in the Dockyard with electricity, running water, beds, chairs and modern toilets to live in the jungles of Seruvavila where the basics were all missing.
He said that this was not to their liking. He told the priest any further ‘incidents’ would be met by arrests and for the priest to think hard about what might happen to him as Frank knew who had instigated the rioters and would not allow anyone to break the peace he had established. The priest retreated seething but breathing fire .
The next morning a high powered MOD team led by the Defence Secretary with an agitated Commander of the Navy (C of N) arrived by helicopter. While the MOD team went to meet the chief priest to appease him, an agitated C of N met Frank who briefed him. The C of N was worried that Frank had only his men to provide evidence. Frank told the Cof N not to worry as those arrested would do the needful, which they did in front of the Priest and the MOD team. The priest was floored. The Navy’s PR was unbeatable. Shortly after the MOD team left, but wiser. There were no more incidents.
In 1983 during the riots Frank with his sailors brought his sector in Colombo under control rapidly. A CEO of one of the best known garment factories acknowledgment of Franks’ efforts when many others failed, made them friends for life
Frank did not seek an extension of service following the traditions of the best senior officers. After retirement he served as Controller of Security, Seylan Bank. After its General Manager(GM) was asked to walk the plank, post conflict with the Chairman of a very powerful conglomerate that owned the bank, Frank had a harrowing experience. He was put under extreme duress to support a preposterous proposition of that Chairman – that the departed GM had planned to kill the chairman. Frank drew alongside that Chairman and in no uncertain terms made it clear that he had been Chief of Staff of the Navy with nearly 35 years of service. He had only one word for him: ‘ NUTS’ and resigned.
Frank predeceased by his second daughter Avanthi , left his wife Kusum, elder daughter Mihiri and son Viranga whose spouses are Shamin Paul, Mark Thirimavithane and Upekha Wickramaratne.
May his soul rest in peace.
