Wasantha Karannagoda

Admiral of the Fleet
Wasantha Karannagoda
Wasantha Karannagoda
Native name
Wasantha Karannagoda
Born (1952-11-22) November 22, 1952 (age 71)[1]
AllegianceSri Lanka
Service / branch Sri Lanka Navy
Years of service1971-2009
2009-Present
Rank Admiral of the Fleet
Service numberNRX 0046[1]
Unit7th Surveillance Command Squadron
CommandsCommander of the Sri Lankan Navy
Battles / warsSri Lankan Civil War
Awards Rana Sura Padakkama
Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
Uttama Seva Padakkama
Alma materAnanda College
Other workAmbassador to Japan,
Advisor to the President on National security

Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Kumar Jayadeva Karannagoda, RSP, VSV, USP, MRIN, MNI (born November 22, 1952) is a Sri Lankan naval officer. He served as the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy during the last phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War and Governor of North Western Province, Sri Lanka from 2021 to 2023.

Karannagoda commanded fast gun boats of the 7th Surveillance Command Squadron, before achieving higher command in the Navy and serving as the Commander of the Navy during the final stage of the Sri Lankan Civil War that saw the military defeat of the LTTE. Under his command the Sri Lanka Navy was able to intercept and sink over ten arms shipments of the LTTE on high seas in the Indian Ocean.

Following the war, Karannagoda retired from the navy and went on to hold several political appointments that included Secretary to the Ministry of Highways, Ambassador to Japan and was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. He supported Gotabaya Rajapaksa's presidential campaign and was appointed Governor of North Western Province in 2021 by President Rajapaksa.

  1. ^ a b "Travis Sinniah to have shortest tenure?". srilankamirror.com. Sri Lanka Mirror. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.