COMMANDER WIJITHA THILAKARATHNA TAKES OVER THE DUTIES AS OFFICER IN COMMAND OF CG 61

The Change of Command ceremony of CG 61 (Ex-SLNS Jayasagara) took place on 20^th January 2022 where the traditional Handing Over/Taking Over was conducted at Galle Harbour. The Outgoing Officer In Command, Commander (C) KPNP Kurukulasooriya, RSP, USP, psc handed over the Command to Commander (ND) HMWM Thilakarathna, RSP, psc, MSc (D&SS), BNavalSt (Maritime Warfare) Hons.

Outgoing Officer In Command, Commander (C) KPNP Kurukulasooriya took over the Command of SLNS Jayesagara on 22^nd January 2021. Under his command, the ship was De-commissioned on 30^th September 2021 in Trincomalee and consequently handed over to Sri Lanka Coast Guard on 3^rd January 2022 as the first Offshore Patrol Vessel handed over to Sri Lanka Coast Guard from the Sri Lanka Navy.

(ND) HMWM Thilakarathna was appointed as the Officer in Command at Coast Guard Station Kirinda before taking over new appointment and he has served in several Fast Attack Craft, Landing Craft, Advanced Offshore Patrol Vessels and Offshore Patrol Vessels during his distinguished naval career. The ship is expected to be commissioned as SLCGS Jayasagara in the Sri Lanka Coast Guard in near future.