Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda appointed Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy

Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda has been appointed as the Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy with effect from Aug 16th 2024.

Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda is a distinguished old boy of S. Thomas’ College, Bandarawela. He joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 1989 as an Officer Cadet of 19th intake, in the Executive branch. On successful completion of his basic training from the Naval and Maritime Academy, Trincomalee, he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant in 1991. The senior officer completed his Sub Lieutenant Technical Course at the Naval and Maritime Academy in 1993 and specialized in Anti-Submarine Warfare from Indian Naval Ship Venduruthy in 2000. Advancing steadily in his professional journey, the senior officer reached the rank of Rear Admiral on 04th May 2022.

He completed the Staff Course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Bangladesh in 2009 and earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Human Resource Management from the Open University of Sri Lanka in 2015. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Maritime Policy from the University of Wollongong, Australia, in 2019 and attended the National Defence Course in National Security and Strategic Studies at the National Defence University, Colombo, in 2021.

Rear Admiral Banagoda has been bestowed Rana Sura Padakkama and Uththama Sewa Padakkama (USP).

Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda has had the privilege of commanding various Fast Attack Craft, Ships and Establishments in the Sri Lanka Navy. Among some of the other appointments he held; Director Naval Training, Commander Southeastern Naval Area, Commander North Central Naval Area and Commander Northern Naval Area stood prominent. Prior to being appointed as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy, he was discharging duties as Commander Eastern Naval Area.

Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda is married to Anusha Banagoda and they are blessed with a daughter Amavi and a son Himeth.