Mohan Wijewickrama

Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, RSP, VSV, USP (born 12 June 1953) is a former Sri Lankan senior naval officer turned politician. He served as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy from 2001 to 2005. He was appointed Governor of North Eastern Province from 2006 to 2007 and Governor of Eastern Province from 2007 to 2015, while serving as acting Governor of Northern Province. He is a former High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to Pakistan .^[2]

Vice Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama RSP, VSV, USP
1st Governor of Eastern Province
In office 1 January 2007 – 29 January 2015
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Austin Fernando[1]
Acting Governor of Northern Province
In office 1 January 2007 – 3 July 2008
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Victor Perera
6th Governor of North Eastern Province
In office 21 January 2006 – 31 December 2006
Preceded by	Tyronne Fernando
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	12 June 1953 Colombo, Dominion of Ceylon
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Spouse	Nishani Wijewickrama
Children	a son Chatura and daughter Ranmali
Alma mater	Thurstan College
Military service
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Branch/service	Sri Lanka Navy
Years of service	1971 - 2005
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy,[2] Deputy Area Commander Northern Naval Area Deputy Area Commander Western Naval Area Commander Southern Naval Area Commander Eastern Naval Area
Battles/wars	Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards	Rana Sura Padakkama Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya Uttama Seva Padakkama Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal Riviresa Campaign Services Medal

Education

Wijewickrama was educated at Thurstan College in Colombo.

Naval career

After completing his education, he joined the Sri Lanka Navy on 1 August 1971. During his career in the Navy he served as the Deputy Commander, Western Naval Area (1993–1995); Deputy Commander, Northern Naval Area (1995–1996); Commander, Southern Naval Area (1996–1998); Commander, Eastern Naval Area (1998–2000); Commander, Northern Naval Area (2000–2001). From 2001 to 2005 he functioned as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Navy. He retired from the service in 2005 with the rank of Rear Admiral, when he was overlooked for the position of the Commander of the Navy by then president Chandrika Kumaratunga.^[3] In 2019 President Maithripala Sirisena corrected the injustice that occurred to him in 2005, by bestowing him with the rank of Vice Admiral from the date of retirement.

Political career

Wijewickrama was appointed Governor of North Eastern Province on 21 January 2006, by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. With the de-merger of the two Provinces, he was appointed the Governor of the Eastern Province in December 2006, the appointment he held till the election defeat of President Rajapaksa in 2015. He was appointed co-chair of the District Development Committees (DDC) for Ampare, Batticaloa and Trincomalee.^[4] He was an active member of Viyathmaga a professional organisation that supported President Gotabaya Rajapaksa's presidential campaign in 2019. He was appointed Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan from June 2020 to June 2023.

Awards

His awards and decorations include the Medals; Rana Sura Padakkama (RSP), Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV), Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP), Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, Riviresa Campaign Services Medal and Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal.^{[citation needed]}

Family

Wijewickrama is married to Nishani. They have a son and a daughter.