Winners of Navy Public Speaking Competition and Admiral Clancy Fernando Memorial Essay Competition receive certificates and prizes

The winners of Navy Public Speaking Competition - 2020 and Admiral Clancy Fernando Memorial Essay Competition – 2021 received certificates and prizes during a ceremony presided by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne at the Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake Auditorium on 30th December 2021 at Naval Headquarters. The competitions were organized by the Naval Research Wing in a bid to provide opportunities for naval personnel to hone their writing and public speaking skills.

The Navy Public Speaking Competition is held annually under two (02) categories for Senior and Junior Officers. Commander of the Navy presented cash prizes of Rs. 100,000.00, 75,000.00 and 50,000.00 respectively to the officers who excelled in the final competition held on 30th December, securing the first, second and third places.

Accordingly, the first place in the Senior Officers' category was won by Lieutenant Commander WHP Weerasinghe, the second place by Lieutenant Commander KGSP Wijerathne, the third place by Captain LADT Shamendra, the fourth place by Lieutenant Commander AMMLB Abeykoon and the fifth place by Lieutenant Commander PDP Peiris.

In the Junior Officers’ category the first place was secured by Lieutenant Commander ADS Sapukotana, the second place by Lieutenant RA Singalakshna, the third place by Lieutenant Commander MWSTK Mediwaka, the fourth place by Lieutenant BSS Ranaweera and the fifth place by Lieutenant HMYN Senarathne.

Director General Training, Rear Admiral Dhammika Kumara, Director Naval Operations, Commodore Nishantha Peiris, Mr. Niroshan Nadarajah and Mr. Hingston Lovell of Toastmasters International were the panel of judges who evaluated the contestants.

In the same vein, Commander of the Navy presented cash prizes of Rs. 100,000.00, 75,000.00 and 50,000.00 and certificates to the winners of the Admiral Clancy Fernando Memorial Essay Competition – 2021. The essay competition was held under three (03) categories in year 2021, with the aim of promoting the academic writing skill of Navy wordsmiths.

Accordingly, topping the list in the essay competition, in the category of ‘Above Commander Rank’, Commodore HRFM Tissera won the first place and the second and third places were won by Commander TNA Rathnayake and Commander MDS Hemachandra.

In the category of ‘Lieutenant Commander and below Ranks’ the first place was won by Lieutenant Commander RMCD Rathnayake. The second and third places in that category were won by Lieutenant Commander KAJR Thilakarathne and Lieutenant Commander AP Senevirathne respectively.

Further, Leading Writer MADR Chamara, Leading Electrical Mechanic RMP Bandara and Women Medical Assistant, LAD Nimanthi won first, second and third places in the sailors’ category.

Congratulating the winners of both competitions, Commander of the Navy said that public speaking and good writing are an integral part of work in the military and it was essential to give right and clear commands to lead one’s team to achieve desired goals. He further said that no matter how firm the leader's plans would be, they would go unheard if he is not able to express them clearly and professionally to his team to achieve the set objectives. Commander of the Navy also expressed that the objectives of these competitions had been fruitful as they have produced a bunch of officers who are capable of projecting their thoughts and ideas in a clear and professional manner.

Deputy Chief of Staff, Commander Western Naval Area and Commandant Volunteer Naval Force, Rear Admiral Upul De Silva, Director Generals, Head of Naval Research Wing, Commodore LC Vithanage, a group of officers and sailors of the Navy Headquarters were also present on this occasion.