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= Noel Kalubowila =

Rear Admiral Don Noel Shantha Chitrananda Kalubowila RWP & Bar, RSP & Bar, USP, psn, MSc (DS) Mgt, MMaritimePol, BSc (Hons) (WS), Dip in IR is a senior war veteran who held mission-critical assignments throughout the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Sri Lanka Navy.

He had shown extreme valour throughout the war against Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and his contribution to war effort was highly commended by seniors and then Secretary to the Defence. He was also recommended for Field promotion by then Commander of the Navy after the victory of the Humanitarian operation in 2009.

For his active involvement during the war; he was awarded with the gallantry medals of Rana Wickrama Padakkama (RWP), 04 times and Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), 02 times. Further, he is also a recipient of Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP) for his unblemished record of service at Sri Lanka Navy.

Due to his service excellence, he was awarded with Commander of the Navy’s Commendation badge, 4 times. He is also in possession of Fast Attack Craft Squadron Pin and Surface Warfare Badge which signifies his tenure at sea.

Rear Admiral Kalubowila (Retd) is a proud product of Ananda College, Colombo. He excelled in academics and brought glory to Ananda College in athletics by emerging as champion, runner up in national level competitions. Also, his Anandian chant of patriotism to the country was evident as he was a senior cadet in police cadetting and was an active member of the Buddhist union.

During his illustrious military career of 34 years, he has held various prestigious appointments locally and abroad. Rear Admiral (Retd) Noel Kalubowila was fortunate to command all vessels of Sri Lanka Navy fleet and large shore establishments. Further, he has also held staff appointments at various levels in Navy Headquarters and in Area Commands.

Naval Career
Rear Admiral (Retd) Kalubowila joined Sri Lanka Navy on 28 th Feb 1986 as an officer cadet for the Executive branch and underwent training at the premier Naval training institute, the Naval & Maritime Academy, Trincomalee. He was commissioned as Sub Lieutenant in 1988.

In year 1990, his operational career started for the country, from 22 nd August 1990 to 26 September 1990 hevoluntarily participated in the operation Thrividabalaya, which was considered as one of the deadliest operations carried out by Sri Lanka security forces. It was the first combined military operation launched by Sri Lankan military to break the siege of the service personnel at old Dutch port in Jaffna Fort. Sri Lankan Military succeeded in breaking the siege at Jaffna Fort and rescued over 1000 Army and Police personnel trapped in Jaffna Fort.

Sri Lanka Navy had played a pivotal role to transfer troops, war material and all logistics to Jaffna Fort from Mandathive island. He was in charge of a group of boats of the convoy and carried out his responsibilities in the face of heavy enemy fire without any cover whatsoever and voluntarily. He thereby displayed bravery in the face of the enemy without regard to injury or his own life in order to achieve the operational aim of the defence forces. He has been driving force for his subordinates and kept their morale up, demonstrating great leadership qualities throughout the operation and due to the danger of the operation he was nick named as "OIC Suicide Express". He was awarded with Ranawickrama Padakkama for his acts of bravery.

In 1991, he was attached to the Eastern Naval Command in Trincomalee in charge of the Trincomalee Harbor. He was instrumental for training of the 23 Naval Subunits Crews for the 1 st time in the Navy. Which were deployed to support Army/Naval camps along the Eastern and Northern sea belt in the country.

In 1994, He was attached to the Naval and Maritime Academy as an instructor, where he established the 1 st General Education Department in the academy which served to enhance the skills of Navy personnel to overcome the challenges of tomorrow.

In 1996, As the Harbor Defence Officer of Trincomalee harbor, He implemented several key measures on surface and underwater to safeguard the harbor. The SONAR systems were introduced for the 1 st time in Trincomalee harbor to protect Naval as well as merchant ships berthed at Trincomalee port. During this period sea tigers were well equipped for under water and surface suicide missions and during his tenure all enemy actions were countered and security measures deployed were ahead of its time.

In 1997, for the 1 st time in the history the Sri Lanka Navy, acquired highly technical stabilized Naval Gun 23 MM Typhoon gun along with the Multi Sensor Integrated System (MSIS) to naval ships. He was selected to test the equipment in Israel and his Fast Attack Craft (DVORA) to be the 1 st craft to be equipped with the Gun and the System. This highly technical thermal system gave competitive edge to the Navy over LTTE throughout the EELAM wars out at the sea.

18th April 1998, off Trincomalee sea, He was in charge of P461. He voluntarily carried out an attack on the enemy, forcing them to withdraw with losses and preventing them from achieving their objective in inflicting damages and destruction to the Trincomalee harbor. His conduct in the face of the enemy was meritorious and brave. He was awarded with the Ranawikrama Padakkama for this valiant act.

On 08th February of 1999, as the OIC of P467 an offensive patrol off East of Delft, he carried out an attack against the enemy logistic convoy and destroyed and subsequently captured the enemy logistic craft along with war materials. His leadership and expertise together with his gallantry led to the attrition of enemy giving victory at sea for the Sri Lanka Navy and country. He was awarded with Ranasoora Padakkama for his valiant act.

In 2002, he commanded the Naval Gun Boat Ranajaya and most of his time was spent at sea in Northern waters defending the Maritime interest of the country.

In 2004, he was appointed as the Commanding officer of the Sri Lanka Naval Ship Jayasagara, which was deployed to protect Sri Lankan Maritime boundary in the East and North to prevent traditional and non-traditional threats from the high seas.

In 2006, Sri Lanka Navy’s main task was to transfer security personnel from East (Trincomalee) to Northern peninsula (Jaffna). During that time 40,000 service personnel attached to Northern peninsula were at a great risk of not getting logistic support in time to sustain the operation against LTTE. Over 90% of logistics were needed to be sent from Trincomalee and there was a need for a bigger Passenger ship for the Navy. He was selected to command the 1 st ever passenger ship acquired by Sri Lanka Navy, which carried over 3500 passengers and 200 hundred tons of cargo.

He was instrumental to convert this passenger ship in to a fully fledge Naval ship. This ship was 1 st attacked by LTTE on 01 st August 2006 off Trincomalee harbor when entering with 1100 security personnel including 20 Indonesians. His decisive decision to take the ship in to the Trincomalee harbor and not being intimidated to the enemy trap, avoided heavy pounding of enemy artillery shelling, damaging the ship and the passengers to berth it securely to avoid any damage to the ship or its passengers.

During the above confrontation, he acted decisively with great fortitude and with the highest degree of courage to ensure the safety and security of the ship and its passengers, preventing the enemy’s intention of sinking the ship, thereby causing an immense loss of precious human lives of catastrophic proportion which could have adversely affected the entire humanitarian operation. Not only this, saving of the Indonesian crew prevented a possible irreparable damage which could have dented the image of Sri Lanka. This gallantry and brave act of the officer highly recommended for Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya and awarded Rana Wickkrama Padakkama. In his tenure he countered 6 enemy attacks on the ship.

During the last phase of the humanitarian operation, on 28 th August 2008 he was appointed as Commander of the Fast Attack Craft Squadron to prevent LTTE leaders’ escape from Mulative sea. When he took over the Command of Sri Lanka Navy’s most lethal squadron over 50 Fast Attack Crafts in the inventory, the morale of the officers and the men were at an all-time low due to enemy destruction of number of crafts from suicidal attacks by LTTE sea tiger wing.

Within a short time span he inculcated new tactics and strategies to conquer the enemy and led the FAC fleet to cause heavy deterrence to the enemy seaborn operations entirely. Denying the achievement of their goals including possible fleeing of their leaders via sea. The absolute commitment, dedication and critical innovative ideas of the officer positively augmented the moral of the men and directly facilitate achieving the desired goal tremendously enhancing the fighting efficiency of the squadron. He constantly directed the men towards victory and lead them by always being in the situation with the units out at sea.

His well-planned deployments of FACs’ considering the concentration of forces brought enormous victory to the Navy and the country. Despite the grave threat to his life from the enemy suicide boats and surface crafts, he visited sea units frequently patrolling the inner most barrier, guiding by example and encouraging his officers and men engaged in action off Eastern and Northern waters of the sea. During his tenure as commander, FAC squadron destroyed 32 enemy craft including 13 suicide boats. This unprecedented and gallant act further provided an immense impetus towards operational aim of the forces. He was recommended for field promotion as well as Weera Wickrama webushanaya for his valiant service to the Navy and the Country.

In 2010, He took over as the Naval Officer in charge of Welisara Complex where he did the main role to accomplished the task of 24 Naval projects in all fields to uplift the Naval facilities including main construction projects of Welisara Rugby Ground, Football Ground Cricket Ground, Naval hospital complex, number of administrative and accommodations projects and digging of 1 st ever reservoir in the Navy.

In 2012, He was appointed as the Defence Counsellor to the Sri Lanka High commission in New Delhi India. During the tenure, apart from the duties and responsibilities of the Defence Counsellor officer, He was heavily engaged in the activities of acquiring 3 offshore Patrol Crafts for Sri Lanka Navy Fleet from the India. He was also instrumental to arrange Strategic Discussion between India and Sri Lankan forces, and trained over 1700 young officers of Army who missed the young officer course due civil war in Sri Lanka. During his tenure Indian and Sri Lankan Defence cooperation further strengthened.

Thereafter in 2014, he was appointed as Director of Project and Plans in Navy Head-Quarters, where he played a pivotal role acquiring the Offshore Patrol Craft ‘Gajabahu’ from China. He led the Navy’s Research & Development Wing to restore long non-operational 76/62mm Naval Gun of Fast missile ship, saving millions of rupees to the government of Sri Lanka. He was awarded with the Commendation letter by then Commander of the Navy for his professionalism, determination and diligent effort. He was also appointed as Director Maritime Cooperation in same period of time where he initiated a meeting with all the stake holders of the maritime fraternity to have discussion on “Way Forwarding on Maritime Hub” in Sri Lanka.

In year 2017, officer was appointed as Chief Instructor of the Naval wing at Defence Service and Command and Staff College, under his guidance all officers achieved the MSc in Security and Strategic Studies for the 1 st time in the Naval wing. On 20 th September 2018 he was attached to Eastern Naval Command as Deputy Area Commander and Port Facility Officer Naval Port Trincomalee.

On 1 st of March 2019 he took over duties as Area Commander South Eastern Command and Securing the Nation’s Defence interest, aftermath of the Easter Attack and operating raids and securing the safety within the area. Initiating the 1 st ever command to lead a lifesaving course to all naval personnel and many environmental and administrative projects to increase supervision of the administration of operational affairs.

Education
Rear Admiral (Retd) Noel Kalubowila has followed various courses locally and internationally to enhance his professional knowledge. He is an Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) specialist from ASW School in INS Venduruthi, India. He obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree with an honour from Navy War College in Pakistan. He has also obtained his staff qualification from Pakistan Navy War College.