Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha, the Chief of the Air Staff of  the Indian Air Force arrived in Sri Lanka today(15 July 2014).  He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Lily Raha.  The Air Chief Marshal and his wife along with their entourage were received at the Bandaranaike International Airport by the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke and Mrs Roshani Gunatilleke.

Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha graduated from the National Defence Academy, Pune with the President’s Gold Medal in 1973 and was commissioned in the flying branch in December 1974. Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha is an experienced fighter pilot, Flying instructor and fighter combat leader with nearly 3400 hours of flying experience. He was deputed as the Military and Air Attaché in the Embassy of India, Kyiv,Ukarain from 1999 to 2001and served as the Deputy Commandant Air Academy, Hyderabad and Senior Air Staff Officer in Air headquarters and as Staff Officer to the Chief of the Air Staff.
 
During their stay, the delegation will visit Sri Lanka Army and Navy Headquarters, the IPKF War memorial Battaramulla, Air Force Academy China Bay, Trincomalee and SLAF Base Katunayake.   
The delegation will meet with HE the President Mahinda Rajapaksha, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development, Mr Gotabaya Rajapaksha, and the Commanders of the Armed Forces during the visit.