Sri Lanka Navy Commander to be appointed as High Commissioner to Australia

Sri Lanka's Navy Commander is to be appointed as the new High Commissioner to Australia, a highly placed source said.

The current Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe is due to complete his period of extension of service by January 15. He assumed duties as the Navy Commander on July 15, 2009.

Vice Admiral Samarasinghe who joined the Sri Lanka Navy in 1974 as an Officer Cadet is the 16th Navy Commander of the 60-year-old Navy.

Current Chief of Staff Rear Admiral DWAS Dissanayake is to succeed as the Navy Commander, sources say.

Meanwhile, the former Navy Commander retired Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda who was the Secretary of the Highway Ministry following his retirement from the Navy, is to be appointed as the Ambassador to Japan in Tokyo, sources said.