Fleet Chief Petty Officer PDP Rathnayake laid to rest with full Navy honours

In a solemn ceremony filled with deep reverence and respect, Fleet Chief Petty Officer PDP Rathnayake was laid to rest with full Navy honours at Hipauwa General Cemetery in Ibbagamuwa on 27th June 2024. The senior sailor succumbed to his injuries, during an operation to seize an Indian trawler poaching in Sri Lankan waters on 25th June off Kankasanthurai, Jaffna. The funeral ceremony was attended by Fisheries Minister, Hon. Douglas Devananda and members of Northern Fishermen Cooperative Associations.

Meanwhile, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera and the President of Navy Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs Mala Lamahewa also paid their last respects to the deceased senior sailor on 26th June. Ven. Members of Maha Sangha, senior and junior officers, sailors, bereaved family members and a large number of residents from the area attended the funeral ceremony.

Attending the funeral, members of Northern Fishermen Cooperative Associations expressed their condolences to the family members of the senior sailor who tragically lost his life during an operation conducted by the Navy, aimed at safeguarding the livelihood of the local fishing community. They also mentioned that the northern fishing community holds great respect for the Sri Lanka Navy due to their relentless efforts and the risks they undertake to prevent poaching activities by Indian fishermen in Sri Lankan waters.