Master Chief Petty Officer (Gunnery Instructor) L G Rathnatunga- man who molded Officers and Gentlemen at Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee-by Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne
WV, RWP and Bar, RSP, VSV, USP, NI (M) (Pakistan), ndc, psn, Bsc
(Hons) (War Studies) (Karachi) MPhil (Madras)
Former Navy Commander and Former Chief of Defense Staff
Former Chairman, Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd
Former Managing Director Ceylon Petroleum Corporation
Former High Commissioner to Pakistan
MCPO (GI) Rathnatunga passed away on 26th July 2026 at the age of 80 years. His funeral with full Naval honors was held at Gampaha today, making an end of legendary Gunnery Instructor and Seamanship teacher. We his students at Navy convey our deepest condolences and respect to his grieving wife, son who is in Australia and daughter who are living in Italy now.
Mr Rathnatunga (the sailors who hold Master Chief Petty Officer rank also known as respected nomenclature “Mister”) joined Royal Ceylon Navy in 1966. His batch – known as 66 batch was recruited to Royal Ceylon Navy after lapse 10 years and has a record of providing two Navy Commanders – Admiral Thissera and Admiral Sadagiri. Mr Rathnatunga served in Sri Lanka Navy for 22 years and retired in 1988. Soon after retirement he was employed by Royal Oman Navy in their Naval Academy as a Gunnery Instructor.
I first met him on 2nd November 1980, when I joined Navy as a Cadet, 45 years ago.
He was the “Commander-in- Chief” on Parade Grounds of Naval Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee. He was trained at INS Dhronachariya, Fort Cochin, India in 1978 as a Gunnery Instructor by Indian Navy. He was chief Drill and Chief Gunnery instructor at NMA. He was the absolute authority at Parade Square, supported by few more junior drill instructors.
Living in a Senior Sailors Married Quarters next to Parade Square at that time, with his young family (wife and two children), most of his time spent on Parade Square. His noble duty and responsibility were to change and mold civilians joining Navy to smart and discipline Naval officers and sailors. As an exemplary Drill instructor, he knew his authority and limits. Even though he will hit with his drill instructor’s baton to sailor under trainees to correct them, he never hit an officer under trainees. But, his verbal screams to us, cadets, more hurting than hitting!
He made our batch very good in drill and smart in Parade. Being a former Corporal of Royal College Cadet platoon, which won the Herman Loos Award in 1980 (best school Cadet platoon in the country), I was very good in drill and had an excellent Voice of Command. Mr Rathnatunga had special liking to me.
I am being smart and cunning cadet; I took great advantage of this opportunity. I would volunteer to be the Parade Commander at morning Parade training. Mr Rathnatunga was happy!
After some time , I realized that Parade Commander was not inspected for polishing his boots and other brass / web equipment’s in our uniform. When my other batch mates were working hard in polishing their boots in to late night, I would sleep early and volunteer to be the Parade Commander next day until I caught “red handed” to Mr Rathnatunga for not polishing my boots, which ends up with one hour of “extra drill” punishment.
At the end of the punishment, Mr Rathnatunga gave me a very important advice “Cadet Wijegunaratne! there are no short cuts to the top! Work hard! You have a very good future in the Navy “- the advice Mr Rathnatunga gave me in the Parade Square more than 45 years ago, still reverberating!
9th intake of Cadets Passing out Parade November 1981 at NMA Parade Square
Image Source:Island
The happiest day of Mr Rathnatunga was the day we Passed out as Midshipmen from NMA. He was first to Congratulate us when we stepped out of NMA Parade Square becoming Midshipmen.
On retirement from Navy, after serving with honour, pride, devotion and unblemished career of 22 years, he joined the CINEC Maritime University on returning from Royal Oman Navy Academy and trained aspiring Merchant Navy Cadets on Seamanship. His instructor skills and teaching methods and command knowledge on Seamanship subject were excellent. He provided generations Merchant Navy officers to our Nation.
Sleep well dear Mr Rathnatunga, you did your duty to Navy and to the Country. Number of naval cadets go through your mill at NMA Parade Square became very good Naval officers and gentleman.
“There are no short cuts to the top” !!!
I salute you Dear MCPO(DI) Rathnatunga!
One of the Happiest Days of MCPO(DI) Rathnatunga – meeting his Cadet at NMA in 1984, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenna the Commander of the Navy
13th Intake of Cadets at NMA
Commandant – Captain WWEC Fernando (later Commander of the Navy), Divisional Officer- Lt JSK Colobage (later Commander of the Navy) Assistant Divisional Officer – S/Lt (S) J D Amaranayake (later Rear Admiral). MCPO ( GI) Rathnatunga seated second from left
Cadet Nishantha Ulugetenna (later Commander of the Navy) third row fourth cadet from left of photo
