Sri Lanka Navy ranks and insignia explained

The following tables present the ranks and insignia of the Sri Lanka Navy. These ranks are similar to Royal Naval officer ranks and the ratings ranks. Sri Lanka does have an Admiral rank, but it is usually only awarded to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) or as an honorary rank; Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda was the only Sri Lankan naval officer to hold a full admiral rank while in active service.^[1]

Officer ranks

Admiral of the Fleet is the highest rank in the Sri Lanka Navy and has been awarded only once, to Wasantha Karannagoda as an honorary rank.^[2] It is equivalent to Field Marshal in the Army and Marshal of the Sri Lanka Air Force in the Air Force.^[3]
Admiral is the four-star rank of the Sri Lankan Navy. The rank of full admiral is not always given; this rank is held by a Chief of the Defence Staff (if the chief is appointed from the navy and not from the army or the air force) or is mostly awarded as a ceremonial rank to the Commander of the Navy on his day of retirement.^[4] It is the equivalent of General in the Sri Lanka Army and Air Chief Marshal in the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Vice admiral is the three-star rank of the Sri Lankan Navy.^[5] The rank of Vice admiral is held only by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. It is equivalent to Lieutenant general in the Sri Lanka Army and Air marshal in the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Rear admiral is the two-star rank of the Sri Lankan Navy.^[5] It is equivalent to Major general in the Sri Lanka Army and Air vice marshal in the Sri Lanka Air Force. Rear admirals perform the duties of chiefs of staff and deputy chiefs of staff in the naval headquarters, and also they serve as regional commanders e.g. eastern naval command's commander.
Commodore is the one-star rank of the Sri Lankan Navy.^[5] It is equivalent to Brigadier in the Sri Lanka Army and Air commodore in the Sri Lanka Air Force. Commodores perform various important duties in the naval headquarters like directorate's director.
Captain is a senior officer in the Sri Lanka Navy.^[5] The rank has a NATO rank code of OF-5, equivalent to colonel in the Sri Lanka Army and group captain in the Sri Lanka Air Force. Captains have several important duties e.g. they perform as commanding officers of Sri Lanka navy ships.

Branch

Officers are assigned to a branch of the service based on their specialization. Officers of non-executive branches wear a distinction cloth worn between the stripes of a particular colour (with the exception of the Band and Provost branch):^[6]

Scarlet - Engineering
Orange – Medical
White - Logistics
Dark green - Electrical
Silver grey - Shipwrights
Blue - Information Technology
Brown - Naval Patrolman
Purple - Legal

Other ranks

Trade branch of sailors

Quarter Master
Radar Plotter
Survey Recorder
Gunnery Rate
Under Water Weaponriter
Diver
Patrolman
Physical Training Instructor
Engineering Mechanic
Tradesman
Civil Engineering

Hull Engineering
Transport Assistant
Electrician Mate
Radio Electrician Mate
Steward
Chef
Information Technology
Writer
Stores Assistant
Communicator
Medical Assistant
Musician

External links

Notes and References

News: Three Service Commanders promoted . 8 July 2018 . The Government of Sri Lanka . 19 May 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110726004055/http://www.news.lk//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9708&Itemid=44 . 26 July 2011.
Web site: Navy Commander calls on Admiral of the Fleet, Wasantha Karannagoda. www.navy.lk.
Web site: Former Navy and Air Force Chiefs elevated to highest ranks. www.dailymirror.lk.
Web site: Sri Lanka Navy. navy.lk. 2022-11-23.
Web site: Sri Lanka Navy. navy.lk. 2022-11-23.
Web site: Branches/ Ranks . navy.lk . Sri Lanka Navy . 24 September 2021.