Sri Lankan Navy officer earns US Master’s with honours, wins two awards

Daily Mirror and Sri Lanka Mirror report that US Ambassador to Sri Lanka Eric Meyer handed the master’s degree to Lieutenant Commander Piyumi Kathriarachchi at the American Center in Colombo. Daily Mirror says the ceremony took place that day, while Sri Lanka Mirror gives the date as October 26 and says Rear Admiral Rohan Joseph and Commander C.R.P. Walakuluge attended.

Sri Lanka Mirror and Newswire report that Kathriarachchi completed the Defense Logistics Management course at the US Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, finishing near the top of her class with honours and a 3.98 GPA on a four-point scale. Newsfirst also characterises her result as close to a perfect GPA but gives no numerical mark.

Sri Lanka Mirror reports that her recognitions included the Naval Postgraduate School’s award for an outstanding thesis and the Kiwanis Club of Monterey’s prize for an international student. The outlet says the club selects just two international students at the school for the latter award each year.

Sri Lanka Mirror reports that the US International Military Education and Training program financed her studies and helps Sri Lankan military personnel build expertise for use in their services. The outlet says Kathriarachchi’s research addressed difficulties the Sri Lanka Navy faces in obtaining spare parts.

Sri Lanka Mirror reports that Meyer said the education had equipped Kathriarachchi with skills to bring back to the Navy and described the training as supporting US-Sri Lanka defence ties and security in the Indian Ocean region. Newsfirst presents her achievement as part of a longer record of breaking barriers and a commitment to serving Sri Lanka, without providing further detail in the supplied report.