| Rajan Kadiragamar | |
|---|---|
Rear Admiral Rajan Kadiragamar |
|
| Born | 1922 |
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Service/branch | Royal Ceylon Navy (1950-1970), Royal Ceylon Volunteer Naval Force (1941-1950) |
| Years of service | 1941-1970 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | Captain of the Royal Ceylon Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Member of the Royal Victorian Order, Burma Star |
Rear Admiral Rajanathan "Rajan" Kadiragamar, MVO, ADC, RCyN (1922-??) was Sri Lankan Admiral. He was the second Ceylonese Captain of the Royal Ceylon Navy from 1960 to 1970 and as such the longest serving Commander of the Navy.
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Kadiragamar came from a Tamil Protestant Vellala family with deep roots in Jaffna, his father was Sam J.C.Kadirgamar Sr, JP, UM a Proctor, who was the President of the Colombo Proctor's Association and the founder President of the Law Society of Ceylon. He had three brothers. His older brother S.J.C.Kadirgamar Jr., QC was a eminent lawyer in commercial law, his youngest brother was Lakshman Kadirgamar, PC former Minister of Foreign Affairs and his third brother was Selvanathan "Bai" Kadirgamar was a Major in the Ceylon Army.[1]
Educated at the prestigious Royal College, Colombo, where he was the senior sergeant of the cadet contingent and played rugby in the annual Bradby Shield Encounter.
With the out break of World War II, Kadiragamar joined the Ceylon Naval Volunteer Force as a cadet officer, after completing his officer training he graduated winning the Sword of Honour at the passing out parade at Trincomalee in 1941. He was thereafter commissioned as a probationary Sub Lieutenant in the Ceylon Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (CRNVR) on 1 January 1942 and was attached to the Royal Navy for the duration of the war. During this time he served on board ships of the Eastern Fleet and saw action off the cost of Burma. Following the general demobilization at the end of the war, Kadiragamar who was now a Lieutenant remained in the CRNVR and in 1946 led the CRNVR's contingent in the victory parade in London. In 1949 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
With the formation of the Royal Ceylon Navy in 1950 he was commissioned as a regular officer with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1951 he was made the commanding officer of HMCyS Vijaya the first ship of the new navy. taking successive commands at sea and in shore establishments of the now growing navy, he was promoted to the ranks of Commander in 1955, Captain in 1959. By which time he was Chief of Staff on the navy. In 1960 he was made acting Captain of the Navy with promotion to the rank of temporary Commodore, when Rear Admiral G.R.M. De Mel was relieved of command following an inquiry in to officers smuggling contraband.
When a coup d'étata was attempted in 1962, which included the Rear Admiral G.R.M. De Mel, Commodore Kadiragamar was targeted by the coup and was planned to be held under house arrest. The coup failed, and its leaders arrested shortly. Even though his brother was a defense council for the coup leaders in the long trial that followed, Commodore Kadiragamar remained head of the navy, when other service commanders were quickly changed. In 1964 his appointment was confirmed and he served as Captain of the Navy until his retirement in 1970 with the rank of Rear Admiral. Even though funding was cut and recruitment halted in the navy by the government, he established the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee. He was a working director at Port Cargo Corporation and played a major role in establishing the Ceylon Shipping Corporation.[2]
Rear Admiral Kadiragamar was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO) for serivce to HM Queen Elizabeth II and had been awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Burma Star for war service from 1939–1945. For service in the Royal Ceylon Navy he received the service medals Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal, Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal and the Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal. He had also severed as extra aide-de-camp to three Governor-Generals.
He was a President of the Swimming Union.
He was married to Rajeswari "Girlie" Gunaratnam and had two daughters Lakshmi and Sharmala and was the fatherinlaw of Captain Arjuna Wijayatilake and Ralph Kanagasingham.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by G.R.M. De Mel |
Captain of the Royal Ceylon Navy 1960-1970 |
Succeeded by D.V. Hunter |