Asoka de Silva (admiral)

Asoka de Silva
Asoka de Silva
	1971 Insurrection Sri Lankan Civil War;
Other work	Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Cuba

Vice Admiral A. H. Asoka de Silva, VSV (1931 – December 22, 2006) was the Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy from 1983 to 1986. He was the first Sri Lankan Ambassador to Cuba

.

Early life and education

Born to a renowned

Mudaliyar Thomas Rodrigo, Asoka was the third child of a family of eight members. He was educated at the Royal College, Colombo, where he was the senior sergeant commanding the Royal College cadet contingent. He won college colours for rugby.^[1]

Naval career

De Silva joined the then

National Defence College, New Delhi in 1977.^[1]

From 1969 to 1970, he was the

1971 Insurrection. He was the Naval Officer-in Charge of Trincomalee when he was promoted to the rank of captain on 1 June 1973, after which he was the Master of MV Lanka Kanthi of the Ceylon Shipping Corporation in 1975. He went on to serve as the Naval Officer-In-Charge of Trincomalee, Co-ordinating officer TAFII (East), Deputy Master Attendant (Trincomalee) and Director Naval Operations when on February 4, 1978, he was made commodore. On July 1, 1979, he assumed duties as the chief of staff at Naval Headquarters, SLNS Ranagala.^[1]

On 1 June 1983, he was appointed as commander of the navy with the promotion to the rank of

naval infantry and the navy began the recruitment of women. De Silva was also the chairman of the Sri Lanka Navy Sports Board and chairman of the Defence Services Sports Board. He was promoted to the rank of vice admiral on 1 August 1986 becoming the first naval officer to hold the rank. On reaching the age of 55, he retired from the navy on 1 November 1986.^[1]

Honors

During his long career in the navy, he received the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, the Sri Lanka Navy 25th Anniversary Medal, the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal and clasp, the Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, the President's Inauguration Medal, and the Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal.^[1]

Later life

Following his retirement from the navy, he was appointed the first Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Cuba. Following his tenor as Ambassador, he served as a consultant to the Jamaica Maritime Training Institute and returned to Sri Lanka in 1994. He took part in the formation of the Retired Naval Officers Club.^[1]

Family

Asoka de Silva was married to Sriya de Silva, they had one son Sajith, two daughters Dilini and Rapti.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Fernando. "Admiral Asoka de Silva: An exemplary Naval Officer and a true gentleman". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 5 May 2022.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by A.W. Henry Perera	Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy 1983–1986	Succeeded by H. A. Silva

[Fernando-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Fernando. "Admiral Asoka de Silva: An exemplary Naval Officer and a true gentleman". Sunday Observer. Retrieved 5 May 2022.

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