President Chief Guest at Dartmouth passing out

[Friday, December 14, 2007 - 5.35 GMT] 

President Mahinda Rajapaksa was the chief guest at the passing out parade of the new batch officers of the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth yesterday (December 13, 2007).

President Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa were received at the British Royal Naval College by British Navy Commander Admiral Jonathan Band and the senior officers of the Royal Navy on Wednesday (December 12). 

The President's second son Yoshitha Rajapaksa who underwent training at the Britannia Royal Naval College for a year will also attend the passing out parade.

According to Dartmouth sources this is the first time where a Head of State attend the passing out parade at the Britannia Royal Naval College as the Chief Guest. Traditionally the British Queen is the Chief Guest at the passing out parade.

Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Navy Commander Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda were also present at the occasion.

The Britannia Royal Naval College was established in 1863 with the aim of training personnel who would be able to face the tough challenges confronting the Naval Forces and is among the foremost training institutes of its kind in the world with a proud history. Those vying for selection should undergo the most stringent testing.

The College is also one of the most modern state-of-art facility which aims to turn out the best and the most efficient Navy personnel for the future. The Britannia Royal Navy College trains both members of the British Royal Navy and overseas recruits.