Rear Admiral (RNR) DC Gunawardena RWP**, RSP, VSV, USP, nswc, psc, hdmc,

MSc (DS) Mgt, MMS, MSc (NS & WS), BSc (Hons)

Rear Admiral Dimuthu Gunawardena joined the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy (now Kotelawala Defence University) in 1982 as a cadet officer and on completion of his basic Naval training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee he was Commissioned into the Executive Branch of the Sri Lanka Navy on 01st January 1986. Subsequently, he followed a Sub Lieutenant Technical course in Pakistan and opted to sub-specialize in Communicationin his branch after following a ‘Long communication course’ in India.

Rear Admiral Gunawardena during his naval career spanning over 35years, acquired wide and varied experience at sea and ashore.Being an officer in the Executive branch, Rear Admiral Gunawardena easily counts long years at sea on numerous appointments inclusive of commanding Fast Attack Craft, Fast Passenger Craft and Fast Gun Boats. His sea career culminated in 2008 after relinquishing command of SLNS Samudura, an Offshore Patrol Vessel (Ex-US Coast Guard Cutter-Courageous) and duties as the Senior Officer Present Afloat (SOPA) during that period. Whilst holding the command of OPV, SLNS Samudura, the ship was appreciated thrice, once by His Excellency the President and Commander in Chief of Armed Forces and twice by the Commander of the Navy for the invaluable contribution she made to win the humanitarian war against the LTTE Terrorism which was one of the most ruthless terrorist organizations in the world.

He also had served in prestigious appointments ashore such as Area Commander of North Central Naval Area, Deputy Area Commander of Southern Naval Area, Deputy Area Commander, North Western Naval Area and also had the honour of serving as the Commandant, of the Naval and Maritime Academy, in Trincomalee considered as the premier training institution for officers in the Sri Lanka Navy which certainly had an influence in his professional career.

Rear Admiral Gunawardena's distinguished, decorative and unblemished Naval career has been rewardedon several occasions. In recognition of his competent and valiant performance as a naval officer at sea, he has being awarded with gallantry medal Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP)on three occasions during his career for individual or associated acts of bravery in the face of the enemy and performed voluntarilyof which two of them were awarded for his performanceduring the last Humanitarian operation. He is also a recipient of gallantry medal Rana Sura Padakkama awarded for individual and/or associated acts of heroism in face of the enemy. In addition, he is a recipient of the Vishishta Seva Vibushana in recognition of exceptional, distinguished and loyal service to the Sri Lanka Navy and for an unblemished record of moral and military conduct during a period of thirty five years Uttama Seva Padakkama, Sri Lanka Navy's 50th Anniversary Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, North and East Operational Medal, Purna Bhumi Padakkama and Riviresa Campaign Service Medal are other medals he has been awarded with. He has also been commended seven times in his career by the Commander of the Navy, for outstanding performance of duty and exceptional contributions to the Naval Service.

In the academic arena, Rear Admiral Gunawardena has secured many outstanding landmarks. He graduated from the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka with a Honours degree in Bachelor of Science in 1985 and he is the first Naval Officer to be conferred with three Masters Degrees. He possesses Masters in the field of Management in Defence studies from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in 2007 and a first Division pass for the Masters in Management Science he obtained from Osmania University, Hyderabad, India, in 2009. He earned his third Masters for National Security and War studies with a B+ Grade from the prestigious National Defence University (NDU) in Pakistan, in 2014 where he was also declared as the ‘Top Graduate of the Course’ for his outstanding performance whileimparting higher education in policy and strategy formulation with emphasis on national security and defence.He is also a distinguished alumnus of the PLA Naval Command College, Nanjing, China, College of Defence Management, Hyderabad in India and National Defence University in Islamabad, Pakistan. The high aggregate he obtained for his sub-specialization in ‘Communication’ in India during 1993/1994 , stands as a record ever scored by an International officer to date.

Rear Admiral Gunawardena is an old boy of the well know school by the sea, S.Thomas’ College, Mt. Lavinia and is married to Nalika, a National Professional officer (Health Systems, Analysis and Evidence ) in World Health Organization country office for Sri Lanka and is blessed with two daughters, Dilisha and Mahisha.