Sri Lankan Navy Officer Becomes First Sri Lankan to Earn U.S. Navy SEAL Trident

Lt. Koyan Chamitha of the Sri Lanka Navy’s elite Special Boat Squadron has made history as the first Sri Lankan to successfully complete the United States Navy’s Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL (BUD/S) training. The intensive 14-month program, known for its extreme difficulty and a dropout rate exceeding 75%, culminated in Chamitha earning the distinguished U.S. Navy SEAL Trident pin.

U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Julie Chung congratulated Lt. Chamitha, describing his achievement as a testament to resilience and the strong security partnership between the United States and Sri Lanka. She highlighted that programs like SEAL training not only strengthen trust between the two nations but also enhance maritime security and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.