Upon the request made by United Nations Headquarters, New York, the Sri Lanka Aviation Unit in South Sudan with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka planned to redeploy two (02) MI-17 Helicopters and 53 SLAF troops at MINUSCA, due to rising instability in the Central African Republic (CAR) with ongoing elections. Therefore, to cater the requirement of reinforcing the UN Mission...

The SLAF Station Piduruthalagala was established on 05th Jan 2010 and celebrated its 11th anniversary yesterday (05 January 2021) under the guidance of the Commanding Officer, Wing Commander Thushara Bandara. The anniversary day began with the customary Working Parade, followed by a “Shramadana Campaign” around Gregory Lake in Nuwara-Eliya. The day’s proceedings were concluded with...

The Outgoing Commanding Officer of SLAF Station Palavi, Group Captain WKASW Vithana BA (Def Stu) handed over duties to Group Captain CJ Godakanda USP, BA (Def Stu), psc. The Ceremonial Handing over/ Taking over Parade took place at the Station yesterday (04 January 2021).The outgoing Commanding Officer, Group Captain WKASW Vithana took over the Command of the Station on 28 February 2020 ...

The Sri Lanka Air Force, on the directives of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, lunched an island wide ‘Pirith Chanting’ Program yesterday (02 January 2021). For the first time in the history of the SLAF, Pirith Chanting was conducted at the Academy, Bases and Stations simultaneously to invoke blessing on all personnel of the Air Force and on the entir...

The Aircraft Engineering Wing (AEW), General Engineering Wing (GEW) and Mechanical Transport Repair and Overhaul Wing (MTR&OW) celebrated their 42nd anniversary on 1st January 2021. All Officers and Other Ranks celebrated the milestone with a friendly cricket encounter among the participating formation personnel. Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksha, Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunaya...

Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Pathman Hariprasadha Mendis FBIM, idc, psc, qfi popularly known as “Paddy Mendis” was born on the 24th of January 1933. He joined the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) as its fifth recruit on the 8th of August 1951. After enlistment, then Officer Cadet Mendis was sent to Britain for training at the prestigious Royal Air Force College in Cranwell. In...

The Sri Lanka Air Force under the leadership of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana welcomed the new year 2021 at Air Force Headquarters today (1 January 2021), the first working day of the year.  The proceedings commenced with the arrival of the Commander followed by the raising of the National Flag and the singing of the National Anthem. A two minute s...

Upon the request made by the United Nations Headquarters, New York, the Sri Lanka Aviation Unit in South Sudan (UNMISS) with the concurrence of the Government of Sri Lanka carried out the re- deployment of a MI 17 Utility Helicopter and 34 SLAF personnel to the Sri Lankan Aviation Unit in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) to assist the ongoing UN air operations which are taking plac...

159 civilians who were quarantined at the SLAF Quarantine Centre located in Iranamadu were sent home today (29 December 2020). This Quarantine Centre operated by the Sri Lanka Air Force was established on the instructions of the Commander of the Air Force in order to support the government’s efforts in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in Sri Lanka The civilians quarantined at this Ce...

63 civilians who were repatriated from Dubai, Abu Dhabi and quarantined at the SLAF Quarantine Centre in Palaly completed the required period yesterday (28 December 2020) and were sent home to their families. The Quarantine Centre at Palaly was established on the instructions of the Commander of the Air Force in order to support the government’s effort of controlling the COVID-19 outbr...

The traditional Handing Over Taking Over Parade of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Wing at SLAF Base Katunayake took place yesterday (28 December 2020) where the outgoing Commanding Officer, Group Captain KC Geethapriya USP, BSc (Def Stu), psc handed over duties to Group Captain KMP Hewapathirana Eng, MBA, Pg Dip (Mkt Mgt), GCGI (SL), MIIE (SL), I Eng, MIM (SL). Group Captain KC Ge...

Under the guidance of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana and Chairperson of the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Charmini Pathirana, a special programme was conducted on today (23 December 2020) to distribute gift packs to the School Children of SLAF personnel who made the supreme sacrifice to the nation. The symbolic donation of gift packs was carried out at th...

The Lanyard and Cane Awarding Ceremony of the No.57 Airmen Gunner Instructors Technique course was held yesterday (22 December 2020) at the SLAF Combat Training School Diyatalawa.The Director Training, AVM HSS Thuiyacontha graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Commanding Officer Air Commodore PSN Fernando, the Officer Commanding Training,  Wing Commander RND Senadheera, all Of...

The Handing Over/ Taking Over of command of the Junior Command and Staff College took place at yesterday (22 December 2020). The Outgoing Commanding Officer, Group Captain MDAG Seneviratne USP, MDS (UoK), BSc (Aero Eng-USA), AMIESL, psc handed over command to Group Captain MCM Fernando MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MSc (Def & Strat Stu), BSc (Def Stu), psc.Group Captain Seneviratne took over...

The Ambassador of Italy to Sri Lanka, Her Excellency Ms. Rita Giuliana Mannella called on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at the Air Force Headquarters this afternoon (22 December 2020).The visiting Ambassador and the Commander held a cordial discussion on matters of mutual interest. In conclusion the Commander presented the Ambassador with a memento to m...

The Military, Air and Naval Attaché to the Embassy of the Russian Federation, Colonel Denis I. Shkoda paid a courtesy call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at Air Force Headquarters this morning (22 December 2020).A cordial discussion was held between the Commander and Defence Attaché on matters of bilateral importance after which mementos were exchan...

The outgoing commanding officer of the Aircraft Overhaul Wing at SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Commodore MA Jabir USP, BSc (Aero Eng-USA) Handed over duties to Group Captain WRDMI Wickaramasinghe MSc (Def & Strat Stu), BSc (Def Stu) Aero Eng, psc yesterday during the handing over/taking over parade which took place at Aircraft Overhaul Wing.The outgoing Commanding Officer, Air Cdre MA Ja...

The Outgoing Commanding Officer of SLAF Station Mullaitivu, Group Captain AN Wijesiriwardena USP, handed over duties to Group Captain ADR Liyanaarachchige RWP, MSc (Def & Strat Stu), BA (Def Stu), psc. The Ceremonial Handing over/ Taking over Parade took place at the Station yesterday (19 December 2020).The outgoing Commanding Officer, Group Captain AN Wijesiriwardena USP, took over ...

The Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, Senior Colonel Wan Dong, called on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana today (18 December 2020) at Air Force Headquarters.The Defence Attaché was accompanied by Colonel Chang Qianjin, the Deputy Defence Attaché and Major Wu Shaohong, the Assistant Defence Attaché. The visiting Defence...

The 4th SLAF- USAF Airman to Airman Staff Talks (AAST) between the Sri Lanka Air Force and the United States Air Force, was held from 16 to 17 December 2020 through video conferencing. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Air Vice Marshal HSS Thuyacontha, Director Training of SLAF and United States delegation was led by Major General Tyler Otten, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander o...

The Badges and Certificate Awarding Parade of the EOD Training School at SLAF Station Palavi for the No.3 EOD Instructor Course, No.40 Officers, No.55 Airmen, No.15 Airwomen and No.30 Naval Personnel’s EOD Basic Courses was held today (17 December 2020). The Deputy Director Aeronautical Engineering, Air Commodore RHKP Ranasinghe RSP, USP, MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MDS, AMITD (SL), MIM (SL)...