Blog Archives

Remembering heroes on 30th Anniversary of Sri Lanka Navy Special Boats Squadron Source:Island The desk in Flag Lieutenant (Aide-de-Camp) office allocated to late Lt. Commander (SBS) Samantha W. Gallage, WWV, RWP, RSP when Admiral Wijegunaratne was Navy Commander, and Chief of Defence Staff. By Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne (Retired from Sri Lanka Navy) Former Chief of Defence Staff & Commander of The Navy Chairman Trincomalee Petroleum Terminals Ltd. Thirty years ago, in Fort Hammenhiel, Karainagar, two officers and 42 sailors volunteered to undergo a special training to start a new unit in our Navy; it was known as the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) or the Naval Commando Unit. The SBS was formed to fight the LTTE’s Sea Tigers in lagoons and waterways. I was fortunate enough to command the unit and train my men to be the “Bravest of the Brave” in the Navy. I was a young Lieutenant Commander ...