Piyal De Silva

Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva, WWV & Bar, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, ndu is a Sri Lanka Navy Admiral. He is the current Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy.

Early life and education

Educated at Dharmasoka College, a Leading government School in the southern township of Ambalangoda in Sri Lanka with a history of producing Top ranking military personnel, he enlisted in the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet in the 12th intake in 1984 undergoing basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy. He later gained a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management, a Master of Defence and Strategic Studies and graduated from the PLA National Defence University.

Naval career

On completion of his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy, he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in February 1986. During his early career he specialized as an explosive ordnance disposal diver going on to command the elite Special Boat Squadron and the Diving Unit of the Navy. An officer of the executive branch he held sea commands as Captain of several warships.

He was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 2012 and held appointments such as Flag Officer Commanding Naval Fleet, Commander Eastern, Southern, North-western and Northern Naval areas.

President Maithripala Sirisena appointed De Silva the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy with effect from 2 July 2018. Prior to this appointment, he served as the Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff and Director General Operations. On 31 December 2018, he was appointed by President Sirisena as Commander of the Navy and promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral effective from 1 January 2019.

His decorations include Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya twice, Rana Wickrama Padakkama, Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry; Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya and Uttama Seva Padakkama for meritorious service.

Sporting career

De Silva was adjudged the Best Sportsman of the Sri Lanka Navy on two occasions and represented the Sri Lankan national basketball team at South Asian and Asian Basketball Tournaments.

Family

Vice Admiral Piyal De Silva is married to Arundathi Jayaneththi and they have two sons.