It was 1989 (30 years ago), and I was working at SLNS Tissa, the Naval Base in Trincomalee. I was responsible for land operations and running the Habarana–Trincomalee Naval convoys. Midshipman Ravi Zoysa was my assistant.
Rear Admiral Clancy Fernando was the Eastern Naval Area Commander. One day, Ravi did something very dangerous and, as a result, made the Area Commander furious. I accompanied Ravi to his office and said that I had delegated my authority to Ravi for a particular task. Rear Admiral Clancy completed his 30-minute lecture to us with a warning that still resonates in my ears: “Wijegunaratne, remember that you can delegate your authority to your junior, but responsibility always lies with you.” That is how he trained us to become responsible naval officers in our country.
When Vice Admiral Clancy became the 11th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy on 01 November 1991, he had a young navy. When his batchmate, Rear Admiral F. N. Q. Wickramaratne, retired within a few months as Chief of Staff, the incumbent Chief of Staff (Rear Admiral Mohan Samarasekara) was only 43 years of age. Admiral Fernando was 53 years old. He took over command after the Indian Peacekeeping Force (IPKF) withdrew from Sri Lanka and Hon. Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated in Sriperumbudur by the LTTE woman suicide bomber Dhanu (21 May 1991). The Sri Lankan Armed Forces continued to engage the LTTE on the battlefield. As the strategically important Elephant Pass was held by the Sri Lanka Army, the LTTE resorted to using the Jaffna Lagoon to transfer their cadres and supplies by boat to keep their supply lines between the Jaffna Peninsula and Wanni mainland intact.
With his brilliant strategic thinking, Admiral Clancy introduced a new idea: establishing a Naval Detachment at Nagadevanthurai and using the Navy’s Inshore Patrol Craft (IPCs) to target LTTE boats crossing the Jaffna Lagoon. This idea yielded great dividends for the Navy. Night after night we had tremendous successes, destroying a large number of LTTE boats. Lengthy discussions were held between the Admiral and his young frontline officers—usually in our Karinagar camp—on how best we could minimize casualties. The Admiral was a frequent visitor to the Karinagar Camp during weekends. Commissioning and training new volunteer units, reducing the length of IPCs to make them difficult targets for the enemy, and improving their maneuverability were among the innovative ideas developed during these discussions.
He made it a habit to visit the war front regularly once he became Commander of the Navy.
Admiral Fernando also had concerns about the Navy’s limited long-range firepower at sea. He overcame this challenge by loading a Main Battle Tank onto a Navy landing craft, proving the effectiveness of this idea during sea confrontations.
Being an “old school” Admiral—having completed his basic training at the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, UK, in 1957—he preferred these discussions in the Officers’ Mess (known in the Navy as the Wardroom) bar over a drink, rather than in a conference room. When I asked why, he replied: “Wijegunaratne, read about German Admiral Karl Dönitz. Admiral Dönitz said the best and most brilliant ideas of the German Navy came after two drinks.”
As a communication specialist, he was instrumental in introducing ‘SINHALE’, an efficient and secure cryptographic communication system. He also designed the Navy President’s Colours and the Staff. His expertise in customs and etiquette was clearly displayed in his book Customs and Etiquettes of the Services, which is extensively referred to by all ranks in the Navy. His interest in naval history was evident through several scholarly articles he wrote on the history of Trincomalee.
As junior officers, we learned many things—things not written in books—through our interactions with Admiral Clancy and General Denzil Kobbekaduwa, Admiral’s best friend.
The LTTE leadership quickly realized that the new Navy Commander was a thinking leader, and that under his command, the Navy would reach greater heights. The LTTE high command made the ultimate decision: to assassinate the Admiral.
On that fateful day, the Admiral was at the Royal Colombo Golf Club at first light, playing his usual nine holes. He had recently taken up golf and was determined to improve his game. Otherwise, he was a top tennis player and an outstanding marksman. He returned to his official residence at Longdon Place, had a quick shower, changed into uniform, and left home around 0830 on 16 November 1992.
As usual, he travelled in his official Benz car, with his Flag Lieutenant, Lieutenant Sadun Gunasekara, in the back seat, along with Chief Petty Officer Weerabahu as escort in the front seat, and his driver, Leading Transport Assistant Perera. Near the Tai Samudra Hotel on Galle Face Road, an LTTE suicide bomber on a motorbike rammed the explosive-laden vehicle into the Admiral’s car, killing all four.
The country lost a brilliant Navy Commander who brought the LTTE Sea Tigers to their knees in the Jaffna Lagoon. The Navy lost its beloved Commander and a great teacher. Mrs. Monica Fernando lost her beloved husband. His two sons (Nishan and Dinuk) and daughter (Shasi) lost their beloved father.
Keeping our promise to the Admiral, we, the youngsters, fought hard against the LTTE. Under Admiral Mohan Samarasekara, who took over command after Admiral Clancy’s death in January 1993, we established the Special Boat Squadron—the new Naval Commando Unit of the Sri Lanka Navy. New concepts such as “Brown Water Navy” and “Asymmetric Naval Warfare” were introduced. We tried to keep Admiral Clancy’s legacy of a Thinking Navy alive.
Dear Sir, we missed you as we rose in rank. Had you lived, we would have visited you and had “two drinks” with you.
We miss you, Sir. It has been a long time—33 years.
They shall not grow old,
As we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them,
Nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them…
