Wasantha Karannagoda

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Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda
Wasantha Karannagoda
Native name	Wasantha Karannagoda
Born	(1952-11-22) November 22, 1952 (age 71)[1]
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Service/branch	Sri Lanka Navy
Years of service	1971-2009 2009-Present
Rank	Admiral of the Fleet
Service number	NRX 0046[1]
Unit	7th Surveillance Command Squadron
Commands held	Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy
Battles/wars	Sri Lankan Civil War
Awards	Rana Sura Padakkama Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya Uttama Seva Padakkama
Alma mater	Ananda College
Other work	Ambassador to Japan, Advisor to the President on National security

Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Kumar Jayadeva Karannagoda, RSP, VSV, USP, MRIN, MNI (born November 22, 1952) is a Sri Lankan naval officer. He served as the Commander of the Sri Lankan Navy during the last phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War and Governor of North Western Province, Sri Lanka from 2021 to 2023.

Karannagoda commanded fast gun boats of the 7th Surveillance Command Squadron, before achieving higher command in the Navy and serving as the Commander of the Navy during the final stage of the Sri Lankan Civil War that saw the military defeat of the LTTE. Under his command the Sri Lanka Navy was able to intercept and sink over ten arms shipments of the LTTE on high seas in the Indian Ocean.

Following the war, Karannagoda retired from the navy and went on to hold several political appointments that included Secretary to the Ministry of Highways, Ambassador to Japan and was promoted to the rank of Admiral of the Fleet. He supported Gotabaya Rajapaksa's presidential campaign and was appointed Governor of North Western Province in 2021 by President Rajapaksa.