Shemal Fernando Rear Admiral Shemal Fernando , RSP , USP , MSc , psc , FCMI , is a Sri Lankan admiral , athlete , sports administrator and journalist . He is the first and current Naval Secretary . Early life . Joseph Conrad Shemal Fernando was born on December 16 , 1959 in Negombo and was christened on Christmas Day of the same year at St . Mary ’ s Church , Grand Street in Negombo by his grand uncle Rev . Fr . Zacarius Dabrera , OMI . Born to Camillus Fernando a notable sportsman and Freeeda Dabrera , he is the eldest in a family of four children . Education . Fernando started his education at Gonsalves Maha Vidyalaya in the hamlet of Bolawatte before moving on to St . Mary ’ s College , Negombo where he became the head prefect , games captain , 1st XI cricket captain and athletics captain . He completed his education at the prestigious Royal College , Colombo . Having entered the Sri Lanka Navy , Fernando successfully completed his basic professional training at Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee , Sri Lanka . He is a graduate ( Class 45 ) of the Naval War College of the United States where he was the first Sri Lankan military officer to be elected " Student President " . He obtained a Masters in Management from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in 2003 . Currently , he is reading for his PhD . He won an Olympic Scholarship from the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) and became the first Sri Lankan Sports Administrator to receive a fully pledged Masters in Sports Management . He is a member of the Class XVI of IOC ' s renowned MEMOS Programme . Fernando also obtained a Diploma on Conflict Resolution from the University of Peace in 2006 . He is a recipient of diplomas in Diplomacy , International Relations and Computer Science . He is a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and a life member of the Royal Asiatic Society of Sri Lanka and the Institute of Supply and Materials Management of Sri Lanka . Naval career . He joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an Officer Cadet on October 1 , 1979 straight from college , becoming the first to do so from the Puttlam District . At the Naval and Maritime Academy he received the coveted trophies for the Best all round Officer Cadet in Academical , Logistics and Secretarial subjects at the 30th Anniversary Parade of the Sri Lanka Navy from the then Sri Lankan President Junius Richard Jayewardene . Having been commissioned as a Sub - lieutenant in the Logistics Branch of the Sri Lanka Navy , he went on to serve in the conflict areas and took part in the Vadamarachchi Operation , Riviresa Campaign and Humanitarian Operations in the North and East . He was decorated for bravery in 1981 whilst serving at Joint Services Special Operations Headquarters ( JOSSOP ) in Vavunia . He is the youngest officer to be promoted to the senior ranks of Commander and Captain as well as the flag ranks of Commodore and Rear Admiral amongst logistics officers . The key Naval appointments he held include Director General Logistics , Director General Budget and Finance , Director Naval Logistics , Director Naval Victualling and Clothing , Commodore Superintendent of Logistics , Captain Logistics Department of the Eastern and Western Naval Commands . He had also served as the Senior Staff Officer ( Pay and Pension ) , Senior Staff Officer ( Foreign Procurement ) , Senior Staff Officer ( Victualling and Clothing ) and Supply Officer of Naval and Maritime Academy and on numerous ships and shore establishments . Besides , he had served as the Adjutant and Logistics Officer of the Joint Services Special Operations Headquarters ( JOSSOP ) functioned in Vavuniya and as Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff at Joint Operations Headquarters . Staff of the Commander of the Navy . During his career he had served on the staff of Naval Chiefs of Sri Lanka on 10 occasions Commanders of the Navy . He served as the Flag Lieutenant and Personal Assistant to Vice Admiral Asoka de Silva ( 1985 / 86 ) , as Aide and Personal Secretary to Admiral Clancy Fernando ( 1991 / 1992 ) and Admiral Mohan Samarasekera ( 1992 / 1994 ) and as Secretary to Admiral Cecil Tissera ( 1997 / 2000 ) , Admiral Daya Sandagiri ( 2001 / 2002 & 2004 / 2005 ) , Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda ( 2005 / 2009 ) and Admiral Thisara Samarasinghe ( 2009 / 2010 ) . He became the first Sri Lankan Naval Secretary and served in the position under Admiral Somatillake Dissanayake ( 2011 / 2012 ) and Vice Admiral Jayanath Colombage ( 2012 / 2013 ) . In recognition of his exceptional achievements in professional spheres and noteworthy feats during his prestigious naval career , he has been commended by successive Commanders of the Navy on a record 18 occasions . Medals . Rear Admiral Fernando ’ s personal decorations include the Rana Sura Padakkama for gallantry conferred by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga , the Uttama Seva Padakkama for exceptional service , North Humanitarian Operation Medal conferred by Prime Minister , Hon . D . M . Jayaratne , East Humanitarian Operation Medal , Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal and Clasp , Sri Lanka Navy 50th Anniversary Medal and Clasp ( conferred by Hon . Lakshman Kadirgamar , PC ) , 50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal , North and East Operations Medal and Clasp , Purna Bhumi Padakkama , Vadamarachchi Operation Medal , Riviresa Campaign Services Medal and the 5 - star Commendation . Athletics career . Fernando excelled in 100 m , Long Jump and High Jump as a junior and in 400 m , 800 m and Pentathlon as a senior . At college , he was the unbeaten Champion Athlete from Under 9 to Under 19 age groups . He won College Colours as well as Sri Lanka Schools Colours . He was crowned ' Sportsman of the Year ' twice . He represented Sri Lanka Navy and Defence Services of Sri Lanka in his early days of the Naval career . He is a recipient of Sri Lanka Navy Colours . He is a life member of the renowned Ceylonese Track and Field Club , popularly known as the ' CT & FC ' . Sports Administration . He served as the Secretary General of the Athletics Association of Sri Lanka in 2004 and 2012 and served as the Chairman of the National Competitions Committee for a long period . Previously , he has served as a Vice President of the National Body from 2002 to 2004 and 2010 to 2012 . As the Secretary General of the Defence Services Sports Board , he spearheaded the Defence Services Games 2010 , the first edition since liberation of the country from the clutches of terrorism . As Chairman Athletics of the Sri Lanka Navy , he produced Sri Lanka Navy ' s first Olympian at Olympic Games 2000 in Sydney and during his tenure and as Chairman , Defence Services Athletics , Sri Lanka gained its first ever World Military Games Medal in 2003 . He served the National Rifle Association as Vice President and Secretary General from 2001 to 2006 and 2010 / 2011 . Currently , he is the President of the National Shooting Sport Federation of Sri Lanka . He managed the National Teams to London 2012 Olympic Games , Athens 2004 Olympic Games , Manchester 2002 Commonwealth Games , Catania 2003 World Military Games and Doha 2006 Asian Games . He also served as Chef - de - Mission of Sri Lanka Contingents to Youth Commonwealth Games in Isle of Man in 2011 , IAAF World Youth Championships in Sherbrook in 2002 and 50th World Military Cross Country in Bordeaux , France in 2002 . As an Executive Committee member of the National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka , he served as Chairman of the Victory Ceremonies Committee of the South Asian Games held in Colombo 2006 and 1st South Asian Beach Games in Hambanthota 2011 . Writing . He is a freelance journalist , whose byline appears regularly in magazines and newspapers in Sri Lanka . He is well known for his scholarly work on the lives and times of intellectuals and personalities . His first article was published in 1987 and has contributed to this sphere for over 25 years . His works on St . Anne , Blessed Mother Teresa , Blessed John Paul II , Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI , Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith , Archbishop Nicholas Marcus Fernando , Bishop Edmund Peiris , Bishop Frank Marcus Fernando , Naval heroes - Admiral Lord Nelson and Admiral Mountbatten and Admiral Clancy Fernando ; Kotelawala Defence University and Royal College have won the admiration of many . Social work . Presently , he is a Council Member of the Royal College Union and Chairman of the War Heroes Committee of the Royal College , in which capacity he was instrumental the construction of the Royal College War Memorial . He had served as the President of the Old Boys Association and Chairman of the 125th Jubilee Committee of St . Mary ’ s College , Negombo and in the School Development Society of St Bridget ' s Convent , Colombo . Family . He married Carmel at All Saints ' Church , Colombo on June 25 , 1987 . The wedding solemenized by his uncle , Rev . Fr . Bertram Dabrera then Chief Pastor of All Saints ' Church , Colombo and was attended by his aunt , Rev . Sr . Mary Lenita , AC . He has four children Mary Anne Shanil , Mary Anne Shalini , Joseph Camillus Shemal and Mary Anne Shenali . The silver jubilee of his marriage was marked with a holy mass at All Saints ' Church , Colombo preceded by His Lordship Valence Mendis and vows solemnized by His Grace Nicholas Marcus Fernando , Archbishop Emeritus of Colombo on July 2 , 2012 . He and his wife have received private audiences with Pope Benedict XVI at St . Peter ' s Basilica and with Pope Francis 1 at Casa Santa Marta in the Vatican .