Inter Unit Drill And Band Competition 2013
12:59pm on Friday 4th October 2013
The ‘Inter Unit Drill and Band Competition 2013’ yet another annual event in the Sri Lanka Air Force calendar, successfully concluded last evening (3rd October 2013) for the sixth consecutive time at the SLAF Base Katunayake ‘Parade Square’. Teamwork and perfect coordination triumphed when SLAF Base Ratmalana emerged as winner of the Drill Competition whilst SLAF Academy China bay was adjudged the winner of the Band Competition respectively. Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama was Chief Guest at the event. It was a proud moment for all competing teams to display their skills in front of their senior officers as the event saw the participation of several top rank SLAF personnel.
22 teams representing all SLAF establishments took part in the drill competition from which three teams, one from SLAF Base Katunayake, one from SLAF Base Ratmalana and one from SLAF Station Iranamadu qualified to perform in the finals. Each team comprising of thirty members, displayed a combination of footwork, marching to commands and weapon handling as part of the drill display. First up on the field was the squad from Katunayake who displayed some excellent drill with their weapons, in rapid unison. They were followed by the Iranamadu squad, from fast to slow, this squad glided smoothly across the parade square with poise and elegance, kicking up a thin layer of red dust as their knees moved up and down in perfect synchronization. Last but not least, the squad from Rathmalana too exhibited skilled rank and file formations on the field with smooth movements and effectively handled slow march movements.
However, it was the team from SLAF Base Ratmalana led by Flight Lieutenant DMDC Jayarathna which marched ahead of the other teams to receive the Championship trophy from Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama with a score of 405.21 points and 3.14 points lead whilst SLAF Base Katunayake team (402.06) led by Flying Officer EDMM Wijewickrema and SLAF Station Iranamadu team (391.51) led by Pilot Officer GRR Gangodawila became second and third respectively.
Following the foot columns the SLAF Inter Unit Band Competition also got underway.
The champions of 2013, SLAF Academy China Bay under the leadership of Warrant Officer WHUS Fernando performed a medley of varied popular songs ‘Therebina’ on bagpipes, ‘Disco Dancer’ and even some groovy English tunes! Equally matched in skill were the military band of Diyatalawa led by Sergeant Darshana P whose drummers performed a lively drum medley with tribal movements and a variation of Sinhala and English songs apart from some well-known marching tunes.
The SLAF has a total of 4 military bands. The first Military band formed up on the 1st of July 1970 and was divided into two in 2002. Known as the Band A and Band B initially, they were later renamed as Red Wing and Green Wing in 2005. In 2007 in order to reduce the burden on the two military bands and to meet the requirement of the passing out parades and other ceremonial activities of the basic training establishment of the SLAF at SLAF Diyatalawa a third Military band was formed and based permanently in Diyatalawa. Similarly with the re-establishing of the SLAF Academy in China bay, the need for a fourth Military Band arose and thus the Military Band of China Bay was formed in 2009.
The judges for both events comprised of officials representing the three Armed Forces and this was undoubtedly a tough one for the second panel as both teams performed exceptionally well. Just before the award ceremony the audience was in for another treat as the SLAF Eastern band performed lively drum melodies. This was followed by the SLAF Colour Squadron which treated the audience to a first-class drill display accompanied by the Band from SLAF Base Katunayake. This drill team showcased brilliant formations done in the mode of a Mexican Wave to absolute precision. The grand finale saw with gunshots fired in unison with shown of silver confetti, brought a fitting close to the day’s events.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal KA Gunatilleke and members of the Air Force Board of Management were among the distinguished guests at the event. A large gathering of Officers and Airmen also witnessed the ceremony.
22 teams representing all SLAF establishments took part in the drill competition from which three teams, one from SLAF Base Katunayake, one from SLAF Base Ratmalana and one from SLAF Station Iranamadu qualified to perform in the finals. Each team comprising of thirty members, displayed a combination of footwork, marching to commands and weapon handling as part of the drill display. First up on the field was the squad from Katunayake who displayed some excellent drill with their weapons, in rapid unison. They were followed by the Iranamadu squad, from fast to slow, this squad glided smoothly across the parade square with poise and elegance, kicking up a thin layer of red dust as their knees moved up and down in perfect synchronization. Last but not least, the squad from Rathmalana too exhibited skilled rank and file formations on the field with smooth movements and effectively handled slow march movements.
However, it was the team from SLAF Base Ratmalana led by Flight Lieutenant DMDC Jayarathna which marched ahead of the other teams to receive the Championship trophy from Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama with a score of 405.21 points and 3.14 points lead whilst SLAF Base Katunayake team (402.06) led by Flying Officer EDMM Wijewickrema and SLAF Station Iranamadu team (391.51) led by Pilot Officer GRR Gangodawila became second and third respectively.
Following the foot columns the SLAF Inter Unit Band Competition also got underway.
The champions of 2013, SLAF Academy China Bay under the leadership of Warrant Officer WHUS Fernando performed a medley of varied popular songs ‘Therebina’ on bagpipes, ‘Disco Dancer’ and even some groovy English tunes! Equally matched in skill were the military band of Diyatalawa led by Sergeant Darshana P whose drummers performed a lively drum medley with tribal movements and a variation of Sinhala and English songs apart from some well-known marching tunes.
The SLAF has a total of 4 military bands. The first Military band formed up on the 1st of July 1970 and was divided into two in 2002. Known as the Band A and Band B initially, they were later renamed as Red Wing and Green Wing in 2005. In 2007 in order to reduce the burden on the two military bands and to meet the requirement of the passing out parades and other ceremonial activities of the basic training establishment of the SLAF at SLAF Diyatalawa a third Military band was formed and based permanently in Diyatalawa. Similarly with the re-establishing of the SLAF Academy in China bay, the need for a fourth Military Band arose and thus the Military Band of China Bay was formed in 2009.
The judges for both events comprised of officials representing the three Armed Forces and this was undoubtedly a tough one for the second panel as both teams performed exceptionally well. Just before the award ceremony the audience was in for another treat as the SLAF Eastern band performed lively drum melodies. This was followed by the SLAF Colour Squadron which treated the audience to a first-class drill display accompanied by the Band from SLAF Base Katunayake. This drill team showcased brilliant formations done in the mode of a Mexican Wave to absolute precision. The grand finale saw with gunshots fired in unison with shown of silver confetti, brought a fitting close to the day’s events.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Vice Marshal KA Gunatilleke and members of the Air Force Board of Management were among the distinguished guests at the event. A large gathering of Officers and Airmen also witnessed the ceremony.
