Rear Admiral Neil Rosayro assumes duties as Chief of Staff of the Navy
 

Rear Admiral Neil Rosayro who was appointed as the new Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy yesterday (08^th November) formally assumed office at the Naval Headquarters today. Accordingly, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Sirimevan Ranasinghe presented the Letter of Appointment of the new position to Rear Admiral Rosayro.

The Commander of the Navy extended his best wishes to the newly appointed Chief of Staff before Rear Admiral Rosayro assumed duties of the new position following a brief ceremony held at the Chief of Staff office, giving prominence to religious rituals.

Rear Admiral Neil Rosayro studied at Bandaranayake Maha Vidyalaya, Gampaha. He joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet of the 11^th intake in the Executive branch in 1982 and secured the first place in his batch at the midshipmen final examination. On successful completion of training he was commissioned as a Sub Lieutenant on 15^th October 1985 and was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral on 01^st July 2011.

During his distinguished career, he had held sea command of Fast Attack Craft, Landing Craft, Fast Gun Boat, Offshore Patrol Vessel and the Sub Chaser of the Navy. He had also held the appointments of Command Operations Officer East, Senior Staff Officer Operations at Naval Headquarters, Deputy Director Naval Personnel, Defence Advisor of Sri Lanka High Commission in New Delhi for a period of 03 years from 2005, Deputy Area Commander Southern, Western and North Central Naval Commands, appointments of Director Naval Operations, Naval Assistant to the Commander of the Navy, Director Naval Foreign Co-operation, Director Marine Special Forces and Director Naval Projects & Plans. The Officer also held key appointment of Director General Operations for almost two years since 2013 and held office as the Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Commander Eastern Naval Area and Deputy Chief of Staff.

Rear Admiral Rosayro is specialized in Communication from signal school in Cochin, India in 1991 and also graduated from Defence Services Staff College Wellington India in the year 2001. He also possesses an MSc in Defence and Strategic Studies obtained from the University of Madras India. The officer also completed his National Security and War Course at National Defence University in Pakistan in 2013.

Since 1985 the officer had actively participated in sea and land operations. In recognition of his act of Gallantry, he has been awarded the Rana Sura Padakkama along with Poorna Bhumi Padakkama, Sri Lanka Armed Service Long Service Medal, North and East Operations Medal, Riviresa Campaign Service Medal, 50^th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal, Sri Lanka Navy 50^th Anniversary Medal, Uththama Seva Padakkama, Videsha Seva Padakkama and East and North Humanitarian Medals.

Being a keen sportsman from the school days, Rear Admiral Rosayro has also represented SLN Cricket team and was adjudged the Best Sportsman of his intake. Mrs. Thamara Basnayake is his beloved wife and they are blessed with two daughters.