Lieutenant Koyan Chamitha of the Sri Lanka Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS), the first Sri Lankan to successfully complete the U.S. Navy SEAL basic training and earn the prestigious SEAL Trident, passed away in the early hours of today at the Walisara Wardroom.
An old boy of Bandaranaike College, Gampaha, Lieutenant Chamitha joined the Navy on 30 June 2017 as part of the 60th intake of Officer Cadets. After completing his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy in Trincomalee, he was selected for the Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron, marking the beginning of his journey in special operations.
In January 2025, he was attached to the Naval Special Warfare Basic Training Command of the U.S. Navy to undergo SEAL training, widely regarded as one of the most demanding Special Forces qualification programmes in the world. The training includes intense phases such as Basic Underwater Demolition, Combat Diving, Land Warfare and small-unit tactics.
From an initial group of nearly 200 candidates, Lieutenant Chamitha was among the final 27 to earn the SEAL Trident, a global symbol of excellence in special operations.
Authorities stated that Lieutenant Chamitha is believed to have passed away while asleep, with a possible heart attack cited as a preliminary assumption. However, the official cause of death has yet to be confirmed, and further details are awaited.
