Rajan Kadiragamar
|
Rajan Kadirgamar RVO |
|
|---|---|
| Born | 1922 |
| Allegiance | Sri Lanka |
| Service/branch |
|
| Years of service | 1941-1970 |
| Rank | Rear Admiral |
| Commands held | Captain of the Royal Ceylon Navy |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | |
Rear Admiral Rajanathan "Rajan" Kadirgamar, MVO, ADC, RCyN (born 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.
Kadirgamar came from a Tamil Protestant Vellala family with deep roots in Jaffna. His father was Samuel 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 an 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. Kadirgamar was educated at Royal College, Colombo, where he was the senior sergeant of the cadet contingent and played rugby in the annual Bradby Shield Encounter.
With the outbreak of World War II, Kadirgamar 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 Kadirgamar, 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.
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