Air
Vice Marshal VB
Edirisinghe
WWV, RWP, RSP and Three
bars, USP, fndu(China), psc,
qhi
Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu
Edirisinghe was born on 20th June 1970 in Kandy. He is a proud product
of St. Sylvester’s College, Kandy. He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force
through 24th intake as an Officer Cadet in 1991 and was commissioned as a
Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch in 1993. He completed
his Flying Training on SF 260 Warrior and was posted to the transport
wing for fixed wing advanced training. Due to lack of pilots in the
rotary wing, he was posted to the rotary wing and completed his training
on Bell 206/212/412 in the year 1993. He was operationally cleared to
fly helicopters and was posted to Bell 212 utility helicopter squadron
for flying duties. He earned his captaincy as a well performed pilot and
involved in Utility flying in North and East of the
country.
Air Vice Marshal Edirisinghe followed
Instructional Training Course at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda and became a
Qualified Helicopter Instructor in the year 1998. He is an A2 rated
Helicopter Instructor from the Central Flying School Royal Air Force who
has gained over 3000 flying hours on helicopter instructional duties.
In addition, he has accumulated total of more than 7000 flying hours on
helicopters and is an Instrument Rating Examiner in the helicopter
stream. He is qualified in Navigation operations and is an instructor of
Night Vision Goggle (NVG) helicopter flying. He has graduated his Staff
Course in Air University US Air Force, Alabama USA, also earned the
distinguished title of ‘ndc’ National Defence College in China and he
has exposure of other foreign trainings in countries such as Bangladesh,
India and Singapore. Additionally, he held the appointment of Defence
Attaché for the Sri Lanka High Commission in Pakistan in the year
2017.
Air Vice Marshal
Edirisinghe was posted to the VIP/ VVIP Flying Squadron in 2003 as a
VVIP pilot, flying Bell 412/412 EP. He has been entrusted with many key
appointments as Officer Commanding Training and Operations in several
Flying Squadrons and commanded No 4, 6 and 7 Helicopter Squadrons. He
was appointed as Base Commander of SLAF Base Anuradhapura and
Hingurakgoda. Also he held the appointment of the Senior Directing Staff
at newly formed National Defence College in Sri Lanka and later he was
appointed as the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay
along with the appointment of Acting Air Commander for Eastern Air
Command. In 2022, Air Vice Marshal Edirisinghe initially held the positions of Director Training and Director Air Operations within the SLAF. Subsequently, he was reappointed as the Director General Training and later assumed the responsibilities of Director General Air Operations before ultimately being appointed as the current Director General Planning.
For acts of Valour and exemplary service,
he has been awarded with "Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya", "Rana Wickrama
Padakkama", and "Rana Sura Padakkama" on three occasions and "Uttama
Seva Padakkama"
In addition, he holds the appointment
of Chairman, Sri Lanka Air Force Hockey. Air Vice Marshal Edirisinghe
married to Mrs. Krishanthi.
