Damian C. Fernando

This article is about the Sri Lankan vice admiral and commander of the Navy. For the Sri Lankan cricketer, see Damian Fernando.

Vice Admiral Damian Fernando RSP USP
27th Commander of the Navy
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 July 2026
President	Anura Kumara Dissanayake
Preceded by	Kanchana Banagoda
Chief of Staff of the Navy
In office 31 December 2024 – 1 July 2026
Commander of the Navy	Kanchana Banagoda
Preceded by	Kanchana Banagoda
Personal details
Born	K. D. Damian C. Fernando
Spouse	Kaushalya Opatha Fernando
Children	3
Education	Naval War College Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute Nautical Institute Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies King's College London (MA) General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (MSc) Royal College of Defence Studies INS Dronacharya Naval and Maritime Academy
Alma mater	Joseph Vaz College
Military service
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Branch/service	Sri Lanka Navy
Years of service	1991–present
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Commander, Eastern Naval Area Commander, North Central Naval Area Director General Personnel at Naval Headquarters Commandant, Naval and Maritime Academy Commander, 4th Fast Attack Craft Flotilla
Battles/wars	Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards	Rana Sura Padakkama Uttama Seva Padakkama

Vice Admiral K. D. Damian C. Fernando, RSP, USP, is a Sri Lankan naval officer who has served as the 27th Commander of the Navy since 1 July 2026.

Naval career

Fernando is an alumnus of Joseph Vaz College, Wennappuwa. He joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an officer cadet of the 21st Intake on 12 September 1991, completed his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee, and was commissioned as an acting sub lieutenant on 12 September 1993.

He is a graduate of Royal College of Defence Studies, earning the post-nominal letters rcds. He holds an MSc in Management (Defence Studies) from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University and an MA in International Security and Strategy from King's College London.

He has also received training and gained specialisation at several institutions, including gunnery and missiles at INS Dronacharya; the Naval Gun Maintenance Engineer Course in China; alumnus of the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Honolulu, Hawaii, US; Associate Fellow (AFNI) at the Nautical Institute in London, UK; the Defence Attaché Course at the Bandaranaike International Diplomatic Training Institute; and the United States Navy's Flag Level Combined Force Maritime Component Commander Course, conducted by the Naval War College at Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island, US.

Fernando was appointed Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy on 31 December 2024 and served in that role until 1 July 2026.

Commander of the Navy

On 30 June 2026, Fernando was appointed the 27th Commander of Sri Lanka Navy with effect from 1 July 2026 by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and was promoted to the rank of vice admiral. He succeeded Admiral Kanchana Banagoda who retired on the same date.

Personal life

Fernando is married to Kaushalya Opatha Fernando and they have three children.

Awards and decorations

Rana Sura Padakkama	Uththama Seva Padakkama	Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal	Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal	75th Independence Day Commemoration Medal	Sewabhimani Padakkama	Sewa Padakkama
Eastern Humanitarian Operations Medal	Northern Humanitarian Operations Medal		Purna Bhumi Padakkama
	North and East Operations Medal	Riviresa Campaign Services Medal

Notes

• "Biography: Vice Admiral Damian Fernando RSP, USP, rcds, MA in International Security & Strategy (UK), MSc (DS) Mgt, AFNI, JP (WI)". Sri Lanka Navy. 1 July 2026. Archived from the original on 3 July 2026. Retrieved 3 July 2026.

External links

• Former Commanders of Sri Lanka Navy