Mohan Wijewickrama

Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, RSP, VSV, USP (born 12 June 1953) is a Sri Lankan senior naval officer and a 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 is the current Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan.[2]

Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama RSP, VSV, USP
1st Governor of Eastern Province
In office 1 January 2007 – 29 January 2015
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Austin Fernando[1]
Acting Governor of Northern Province
In office 1 January 2007 – 3 July 2008
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Victor Perera
6th Governor of North Eastern Province
In office 21 January 2006 – 31 December 2006
Preceded by	Tyronne Fernando
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	12 June 1953 Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Spouse(s)	Nishani Wijewickrama
Children	a son Chatura and daughter Ranmali
Alma mater	Thurstan College
Military service
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Branch/service	Sri Lanka Navy
Years of service	1971 - 2005
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Chief 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/wars	Sri 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

Education

Wijewickrama was educated at Thurstan College.

Naval career

After completing his education, he joined the Sri Lanka Navy on 1 August 1971. He had served as 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]

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] Having supported President Gotabhaya Rajapaksa's presidential campaign in 2019, he was appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan in December 2019 by President Rajapaksa and promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral.[5]

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. Navy website launched
3. Colombo security chief fired; Navy No. 2 bypassed
4. A Brief History of Eastern Provincial Council
5. "Sri Lanka backlash over misogyny of Gota’s key backers". economynext. Retrieved 23 July 2020.

External links

• Eastern Provincial Council Governor's Secretariat

Political offices
Preceded by Tyronne Fernando	Governor of North Eastern Province 2006	Succeeded by Office abolished
Preceded by Office created	Governor of Northern Province (Acting) 2007–2008	Succeeded by Victor Perera
Preceded by Office created	Governor of Eastern Province 2007–2015	Succeeded by Austin Fernando