NO 5 AND 6 SQUADRONS HONOURED WITH THE PRESIDENT'S COLOUR
9:24am on Friday 5th March 2021
The President's Colour is the highest accolade a military establishment could receive in its life-span. It is presented in recognition of invaluable services and sacrifices made in the defence of a Nation. The colour is an emblazoned flag and its origin can be traced back to the days when monarchies were the order of the day. The King in those ancient days, would have his colour carried to battle.
Both, No 5 Fighter Squadron and the No 6 Helicopter Squadron were honoured by the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (05 March 2021) with the award of the President’s Colour in a spectacular parade held at SLAF Base Katunayake.
The Chief Guest, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa was received by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. The Colour Awarding Parade was commanded by Air Commodore Thushara Weeraratne, and the President’s Colour was taken over by the Commanding Officer of No 5 Fighter Squadron, Wing Commander Roshan Perera and the Commanding Officer of the No 6 Helicopter Squadron, Group Captain Priyamal Fernando. the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunathilake, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Inspector General of Police Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces of the United States of America, former Commanders of the Air Force, Members of the Air Force Board of Management, Senior Officers and a cross section of Other Ranks were also present at the occasion.
The SLAF was first awarded with the President’s Colour in 1976. On the occasion of SLAF Golden Jubilee in 2001, SLAF Base Katunayake and No 1 Flying Training Wing at Anuradhapura were honoured with the President’s colour as the pioneer Base and Flying Formation of the Air Force. In the year 2009 the No 2 Transport Squadron, the No 4 VIP Transport Helicopter Squadron, the No 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron, No 10 Fighter Jet Squadron and the Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment joined this elite group of formations whose contribution to the nation was recognized with the award of the President’s Colour. In 2019, the No 7 Helicopter Squadron and the No 8 Light Transport Squadron were also recongnized for their dedication with the award of the President’s Colour.
No 5 Fighter Squadron, established on 1 February 1991, is the home of the Chinese Built F-7 fighter aircraft whose prime role is to act as interceptors to facilitate an effective air defence system. The F-7s were the first ever aircraft in the history of the Air Force to carry air to air missiles and to have been scrambled to counter the enemy air threat on a number of occasions. In addition, the F-7s have been deployed for more 600 Air Interdiction Sorites and more than 170 combat air patrol missions throughout the Humanitarian Mission.
The No. 6 Helicopter Squadron, the home for the Russian built Mi 17 helicopters nick named as the ‘Tuskers in the Skies’, was established on 15 March 1993 and has extended its wings globally by participating for UN Peace Keeping missions since 2014. The Squadron is capable of a wide spectrum of air operations to include VVIP/VIP/ Commercial flights, Casualty Evacuation, Medical Evacuation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations, Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations, Tactical and Armed Reconnaissance and Close Air Support.
Through the valiant efforts of these squadrons, countless military and civilian lives have been saved and thus, the Squadrons were bestowed with the colour of the His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka this monining.
Both, No 5 Fighter Squadron and the No 6 Helicopter Squadron were honoured by the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa today (05 March 2021) with the award of the President’s Colour in a spectacular parade held at SLAF Base Katunayake.
The Chief Guest, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa was received by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. The Colour Awarding Parade was commanded by Air Commodore Thushara Weeraratne, and the President’s Colour was taken over by the Commanding Officer of No 5 Fighter Squadron, Wing Commander Roshan Perera and the Commanding Officer of the No 6 Helicopter Squadron, Group Captain Priyamal Fernando. the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Gunathilake, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Inspector General of Police Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces of the United States of America, former Commanders of the Air Force, Members of the Air Force Board of Management, Senior Officers and a cross section of Other Ranks were also present at the occasion.
The SLAF was first awarded with the President’s Colour in 1976. On the occasion of SLAF Golden Jubilee in 2001, SLAF Base Katunayake and No 1 Flying Training Wing at Anuradhapura were honoured with the President’s colour as the pioneer Base and Flying Formation of the Air Force. In the year 2009 the No 2 Transport Squadron, the No 4 VIP Transport Helicopter Squadron, the No 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron, No 10 Fighter Jet Squadron and the Sri Lanka Air Force Regiment joined this elite group of formations whose contribution to the nation was recognized with the award of the President’s Colour. In 2019, the No 7 Helicopter Squadron and the No 8 Light Transport Squadron were also recongnized for their dedication with the award of the President’s Colour.
No 5 Fighter Squadron, established on 1 February 1991, is the home of the Chinese Built F-7 fighter aircraft whose prime role is to act as interceptors to facilitate an effective air defence system. The F-7s were the first ever aircraft in the history of the Air Force to carry air to air missiles and to have been scrambled to counter the enemy air threat on a number of occasions. In addition, the F-7s have been deployed for more 600 Air Interdiction Sorites and more than 170 combat air patrol missions throughout the Humanitarian Mission.
The No. 6 Helicopter Squadron, the home for the Russian built Mi 17 helicopters nick named as the ‘Tuskers in the Skies’, was established on 15 March 1993 and has extended its wings globally by participating for UN Peace Keeping missions since 2014. The Squadron is capable of a wide spectrum of air operations to include VVIP/VIP/ Commercial flights, Casualty Evacuation, Medical Evacuation, Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Operations, Search and Rescue (SAR) Operations, Tactical and Armed Reconnaissance and Close Air Support.
Through the valiant efforts of these squadrons, countless military and civilian lives have been saved and thus, the Squadrons were bestowed with the colour of the His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka this monining.
