Captain (N) SD Paranagama studied at the St. Sylvester’s College Kandy Sri Lanka. He joined the Sri Lanka Navy as an officer cadet on 30th July 1997. He underwent his basic training at the Naval and Maritime Academy (NMA), Trincomalee. He is specialized in Navigation.
Some of the key sea appointments he has held during his naval career are Officer In Command of Fast Attack Craft (FACs), Commanding Officer SLNS Ranarisi and SLNS Suranimila. Apart from that he has served as the Executive Officer SLN Dockyard, the Commanding Officer Naval Deployment Vetlalakerani, Commanding Officer SLNS Gemunu, Commanding Officer SLNS Rangalla, Senior Staff Officer Project and Plans (Perssonnel), Senior Staff Officer Foreign Training in Naval Headquarters.
Captain (N) SD Paranagama was awarded with gallantry medal ‘Rana Sura Padakkama’ twice for his bravery acts in the face of the enemy. He was awarded with Uththama Seva Padakkama for his unblemished service to the navy. He is a recipient of the Commander of the Navy’s Commendation Badge twice for his remarkable performances and he was awarded with FAC Squadron Pin and Surface Warfare Badge for his recommendable and bravery service in the Sri Lanka Navy.
He has followed his Sub Lieutenant Technical Course at NMA in 2003, Junior Staff Course in Sri Lanka Air force in 2004, Long navigation Course in India in 2007, Advance Electronic Warfare Course in Pakistan, Staff Course in China in 2015, International legal Course at DILLS in United State in 2022 and Senior Command Course in China 2024. He completed a Master of Military Strategy and Military Command at Naval Command College Nanjin, China.
He is married to Shihani and blessed with one son and three daughters.