Commander of the Navy recognizes Lieutenant Koyan Chamitha’s historic SEAL achievement

In a proud moment for the Sri Lanka Navy, Lieutenant Koyan Chamitha was commended by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, at Navy Headquarters today (05 Aug 25), for his extraordinary accomplishment in completing the U.S. Navy SEAL basic training and earning the coveted SEAL Trident.

Lieutenant Chamitha made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to successfully complete the rigorous SEAL basic training conducted by Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command, U.S. Navy, marking a significant milestone. The Navy Chief congratulated him for his remarkable feat, noting that his achievement has brought immense credit to the Navy and the nation.

An old boy of Bandaranayake College in Gampaha, Lieutenant Chamitha joined the Navy on 30 Jun 2017 as part of the 60th intake of Officer Cadets. After completing his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee, the officer advanced to train in the Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS), where his journey towards special operations excellence began. In January 2025, he was attached to the Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command for SEAL basic training.

The U.S. Navy SEAL training process is widely regarded as one of the toughest Special Forces qualification programmes in the world. It includes multiple demanding phases such as Basic Underwater Demolition, Combat Diving, Land Warfare and small-unit tactics, all designed to forge highly disciplined and mentally resilient combatants.

From an initial pool of nearly 200 candidates, Lieutenant Chamitha emerged among the final 27 to earn the prestigious SEAL Trident, a symbol of excellence in special operations. His success also stands as a testament to the strength, determination and high standards of training within the Sri Lanka Navy.