Vice Admiral
Mohan Wijewickrama
RSP, VSV, USP
1st Governor of Eastern Province
In office
1 January 2007 – 29 January 2015
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byAustin Fernando[1]
Acting Governor of Northern Province
In office
1 January 2007 – 3 July 2008
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byVictor Perera
6th Governor of North Eastern Province
In office
21 January 2006 – 31 December 2006
Preceded byTyronne Fernando
Succeeded byOffice abolished
Personal details
Born12 June 1953
Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon
NationalitySri Lankan
SpouseNishani Wijewickrama
Childrena son Chatura and daughter Ranmali
Alma materThurstan College
Military service
AllegianceSri Lanka
Branch/serviceSri Lanka Navy
Years of service1971 - 2005
RankVice Admiral
CommandsChief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy,[2] Deputy Area Commander Northern Naval Area
Deputy Area Commander Western Naval Area
Commander Southern Naval Area
Commander Eastern Naval Area
Battles/warsSri Lankan Civil War
Awards Rana Sura Padakkama
Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
Uttama Seva Padakkama
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal
Riviresa Campaign Services Medal

Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, RSP, VSV, USP (born 12 June 1953) is a former Sri Lankan senior naval officer turned politician. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy from 2001 to 2005. He was appointed Governor of North Eastern Province from 2006 to 2007 and Governor of Eastern Province from 2007 to 2015, while serving as acting Governor of Northern Province. He was the former Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan .[2]

Education

Wijewickrama was educated at Thurstan College.

After completing his education, he joined the Sri Lanka Navy on 1 August 1971. During his career in the Navy he had served as the Deputy Commander, Western Naval Area (1993–1995); Deputy Commander, Northern Naval Area (1995–1996); Commander, Southern Naval Area (1996–1998); Commander, Eastern Naval Area (1998–2000); Commander, Northern Naval Area (2000–2001). From 2001 to 2005 he functioned as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy. He retired from the service in 2005 with the rank of Rear Admiral, when he was overlooked for the position of the Commander of the Navy by then president Chandrika Kumaratunga.[3] In 2019 President Maithripala Sirisena corrected the injustice that occurred to him in 2005, by bestowing him with the rank of Vice Admiral from the date of retirement.

Political career

Wijewickrama was appointed as Governor of North Eastern Province on 21 January 2006, by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. With the de-merger of the two Provinces, he was appointed as the Governor of the Eastern Province in December 2006, the appointment he held till the election defeat of President Rajapaksa 2015. He was appointed as the co-chair for the District Development Committees (DDC) for Ampare, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.[4] He was an active member of Viyathmaga a professional organisation that supported President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's presidential campaign in 2019. He was appointed as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan from June 2020 to June 2023 .

Awards

His awards and decorations include the Medals; Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP), Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, Riviresa Campaign Services Medal and Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal.

Family

Wijewickrama is married to Nishani and has a son and a daughter.

References

  1. ↑ Hon. Austin Fernando Assumed Duty as the Governor of Eastern Province
  2. 1 2 Navy website launched
  3. ↑ "Situation Report". www.sundaytimes.lk. Retrieved 2021-12-30.
  4. ↑ A Brief History of Eastern Provincial Council
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