H. A. Silva

Educated at S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia, Silva excelled in sports and studies. He won several prizes and won colours for cricket, athletics, boxing and also was the Vice Captain of the College Boxing Team. His brother was Major General Gratian Silva. ==Naval career==

Silva joined the then Royal Ceylon Navy as an officer cadet on 12 October 1953 at the age of 17. He was selected for officer training at Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth and graduate in 1956 at the top of his batch. Subsequently as an acting sub lieutenant, he completed the Junior Naval Officers (Lieutenants) Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich and attended HMS Mercury and the Royal Naval Engineering College for specialist training. He undertook his sea training on board Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Triumph (R16) in the Mediterranean and the North Sea. During his long career in the navy he received the Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, the Ceylon Armed Services Long Service Medal, Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal, Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal, Ceylon Armed Services Inauguration Medal, President's Inauguration Medal and the Vadamarachchi Operation Medal. ==References==