Jude Wijethunge

Lieutenant Commander Jude Lakmal Wijethunge (Sinhala: ජූඩ් ලක්මාල් විජේතුංග, died 30 March 1996), was a officer in the Sri Lanka Navy. He was a proud product of Ananda Central College Elpitiya. As a Lieutenant, he commanded the Dvora-class fast patrol boat P458 of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla. He was posthumously awarded the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, Sri Lanka's highest military award for gallantry, for his actions on 30 March 1996 in defending a Navy transport from a Sea Tiger attack. As part of an escort to the transport vessel, Wijethunge fought off repeated attacks until his craft had suffered severe damage including to its engines, and all his crew were incapacitated. Noticing a Sea Tiger suicide boat, Wijethunge maneuvered the P458 to intercept it causing the suicide boat to ram into his vessel. The resulting explosion destroyed both vessels, thereby saving the transport vessel which was the target of the suicide boat. Two members of his crew were later rescued from the waters. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Commander in addition to receiving the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, and is the first naval officer to receive the award.[1][2]

Lieutenant Commander Jude Lakmal Wijethunge PWV
Native name	ජූඩ් ලක්මාල් විජේතුංග
Birth name	Jude Lakmal Wijethunge
Died	(1996-03-30)30 March 1996 Northern Sri Lanka
Allegiance	Sri Lanka
Service/branch	Sri Lanka Navy
Years of service	Unknown – 1996
Rank	Lieutenant Commander
Service number	NRX 0517
Unit	4th Fast Attack Flotilla
Commands held	Dvora-class fast patrol boat P458 of the 4th Fast Attack Flotilla
Awards	Parama Weera Vibhushanaya

Wijethunge is one of only two navy recipients of the Parama Weera Vibhushanaya, the other being Chief Petty Officer K. G. Shantha.[3]