About us

Sri Lanka Air Force Ex Servicemen’s Association", or known by the acronym “AFESA” is non-sectarian and non- political Association, affiliated to the Sri Lanka Ex Servicemen’s Association ( referred to as SLESA) in terms of Clause 5 of schedule II of LAW No 8 of 1976 – Chapter 636 of Legislative enactments of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka

The Sri Lanka Air Force Ex-Servicemen's Association was formed to maintain the traditions of the past and keep in touch with the Comrades and to grant financial and other assistance to its members and their immediate dependents who are in need of such assistance. The affairs are managed by a Board of Management elected at the Annual General Meetings and Officers Appointed by the commander. The patron is the Commander of the Air Force, and the Chief of Staff is the Vice Patron

The idea of an Ex-Servicemen Association was first mooted by the then Commander AIR Vice Marshal Harry Goonetilleke at an AFBM meeting in February 1980. Air Commodore G.M.U.De Silva the then Director of Administration performed the initial tasks of formation of the Association recommending to the Commander to appoint and on his su Group Capt. D.B.S.Weeratna a former Director Administration and Warrant Officer Sol Kulathunge as the First President and the Secretary of the Association and drafting the constitution on advice of Col. Nugawela, President of SLESA Col. B.L Seneviratne CLI, and with the assistance of his friend Mr.G.E.De Silva Attorney- at Law Crown Counsel the in June 1980.

On 24th August 1980, the " Sri Lanka Air Force Ex Servicemen's Association" was Inaugurated at the meeting held at the Sri Lanka Ex Servicemen's Institute , Bristol Street, Colombo 01 attended by 75 members under the patronage of then Commander of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal W.D.H.S.W. Goonetilleke.

The Annual General Meeting in 1995, approved to change the name of the Association to "SRI LANKA EX-AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION" as the Female Counterparts were joining the Association. At the Annual General Meeting in 2019, the name was changed again to “SRI LANKA AIR FORCE Ex SERVICEMEN ASSOCIATION as the word “servicemen” were interpreted to include both men and women.

The annual General Meeting held in 2003, approved the formation of Associations by Branches and Provinces was approved .The association has sixteen out of which six have Affiliated Status to SLESA while the other eleven are waiting approval.

In 2017 The Sri Lanka Air Force decided to remit to the Association Fund a monthly contribution of twenty rupees a month from serving Air Force personnel and conveyed by letter dated 27/12.2020 under reference SLAF/258/31/ACCTS directives to manage the funds thus remitted. Consequently, the Seva Suwa Surakum Fund was established, and a set of rules were formulated, an independent Board of Trustee and a under a chairman was established to manage this fund jointly by Director Adiministrion of Air Force latter being co signature for all payments from this fund also being a member of the Board of Trustee along with SLAF Command Audit Officer and Commanders representative of the AFESA. A wide range of Medical expense, funeral grants for embers and wife, a monthly grant for university education of members families are met from this fund.