Rear Admiral Dammika Kumara, Vice Chancellor of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, has been awarded France’s Order of Maritime Merit in recognition of his contribution to the maritime sector.
The award was presented at a ceremony at the French Embassy in Colombo on 31 August, NewsFirst reported.
Kumara was nominated for the honour by the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, cited for advancing maritime studies, promoting regional maritime cooperation and strengthening maritime relations between the two countries.
The centre behind the citation
Particular recognition was given to his role in establishing and developing the Regional Centre for Maritime Studies at KDU while serving as Vice Chancellor.
The centre was launched in 2024 as a joint Sri Lanka-France initiative. Its stated purpose is to build maritime knowledge, research and capacity, and to broaden regional collaboration on maritime affairs.
About the order
France established the Order of Maritime Merit — the Ordre du Mérite maritime — in 1930. It is conferred on individuals judged to have made exceptional contributions to the development of the maritime sector and to have shown outstanding professional expertise in the field.
NewsFirst did not name the French Ambassador, specify the grade of the order conferred, or say whether other Sri Lankan recipients were honoured at the same ceremony. No other verified newsroom had carried the award at the time of writing.
Context
The award lands amid steady French engagement with Sri Lanka on maritime affairs, in a period when Indian Ocean security cooperation has drawn growing attention from European navies. KDU, the tri-services university at Ratmalana, has been the institutional anchor for that engagement through the Regional Centre for Maritime Studies, and the citation ties the honour directly to that institution rather than to a naval command role.
