Thurstan College felicitated the distinguished Old Boy Vice Admiral Jayantha Perera who was appointed as the 19th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy at a ceremony held at the College on July 31st,2014 Vice Admiral had a very distinguished career at Thurstan in the mid 1970 where excelled as a cadet and in Rugby. As the Senior Sergeant he was adjudged the Best Commander at the 3rd Battalion Cadet Camp in 1975 where Thurstan became the champion battalion. In 1976 he was appointed as the Company Sergeant Major [ CSM ] of the 3rd Battalion. He was the College Rugby and Athletic Captain in 1977 and that year he was the College Head Prefect After leaving College he joined the Sri Lanka Navy in August 1978. He had his basic training in the Naval & Maritime Academy in Trincomalee. He was a Gunnery Specialist trained in Kochi India and has undergone many training programmes in India, Pakistan, United Kingdom & Hawaii United States. He holds a MSc in Defence Studies from the University of Madras. He has the privilege of commanding many ships of the Navy including the Flagship SLNS Sayura. He has also held many important Staff appointments in the Navy and the last being the Chief of Staff. At the ceremony, there were a large number Old Thurstanite high ranking Officers from the Navy, Army, Air Force and the Police. There were many of his teachers, past Principals, other distinguished Old boys, Present staff members and senior students. Principal Mr Daya Bandara welcomed the Vice Admiral and others. A close classmate and a Naval Colleague Cdr [rt] S U Lanka Prasada spoke about his friend Jayantha’s achievements at Thurstan and Navy. In Conclusion, Vice Admiral reminiscence his days at Thurstan and thanked the school for organising this function. He was presented with momento by the Principal and he too presented to College a Naval plaque in remembrance of his visit
