Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara Receives French Maritime Honour

COLOMBO (News 1st): Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara, Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), has been awarded the prestigious Order of Maritime Merit by the Government of France in recognition of his contribution to the maritime sector and his professional excellence.

The award was presented during a ceremony held at the French Embassy in Colombo on August 31, 2026.

Rear Admiral Kumara was nominated for the honour by the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka in recognition of his contribution to the advancement of maritime studies, the promotion of regional maritime cooperation and efforts to strengthen maritime relations between Sri Lanka and France.

The Order of Maritime Merit, established by France in 1930, is awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the development of the maritime sector and demonstrated outstanding professional expertise in the field.

Particular recognition was given to Rear Admiral Kumara's role in establishing and developing the Regional Centre for Maritime Studies (RCMS) while serving as Vice Chancellor of KDU.

The Regional Centre for Maritime Studies was launched in 2024 as a joint initiative between Sri Lanka and France, with the objective of enhancing maritime knowledge, research, capacity building and regional collaboration in maritime affairs.