New Batch of Officers, Airmen pass out from the Air Force Academy, China Bay

2:55pm on Friday 23rd January 2015

59 Officers from the 54th Intake of Officer Cadets and 6th Intake Lady Officer Cadetsalong with 358 Airmen of the 158A and 159 Regular Airmen’s Recruit Courses and 80 Airwomen of the No 28 and No 29 Regular Airwomen's’ Recruit Courses passed out from the SLAF Academy China Bay during the morning hours of 23rd January 2015. At the same ceremony, 12 Pilot Officers of the General Duties/Pilot Branch received their Flying Brevets from The Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The Board of Management of the SLAF and senior officers of the SL Army, SL Navy, and SL Police also attended the event. The Commandant of the SLAF Academy China Bay, Air Commodore Sagara Kotakadeniya received the Chief Guest and other distinguished guests on arrival.

The Officer Cadets/Lady Officer Cadets have successfully completed 3 years of rigorous training while the Airmen/Airwomen followed a 24 week Basic Combat Training programme. The Parade, which was commanded by the Commanding Officer of Combat Training School Wg Cdr HYR Chandima, was followed by an Aerobatic display of K8 and PT6 aircraft, flown by Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs) of No.1 Flying Training Wing, Commanded by Wg Cdr Asela Jayasekara. This was followed by an Unarmed Combat display, a Drill Display, and a Camp Attack Display.

No 54th Intake Officer Cadets and No 06th Intake Lady Officer Cadets Award Winners:-

1.   Best Academic Studies :-          11831   Off Cdt Eranga PGS
2.   Best Flying Officer Cadet:-       11794   Off Cdt Gunarathne NHDK
3.   Best Logistics Officer Cadet:-   11807   Off Cdt Sandaruwan RMK
4.   Best Ad/Regt Officer Cadet:-        11818    Off Cdt Abeysiri NGPM
5.   Best Ops Air Officer Cadet:-       11831    Off Cdt Eranga PGS
6.   Best All Round Officer Cadet       11807   Off Cdt Sandaruwan RMK

No 158-A Regular Airmen Recruit Course Award Winners:-

1.   Best All Round Recruit:-   TA 31676 AC2 UT   Hakgalla PWHGM
2.   Best Shot :-                         TA 31863 AC2 UT   Jayawardena AGAK
3.   Best Student:-          TA 31714 AC2 UT    Warnasooriya WAGA
4..   Best Drill:-                          TA 31690 AC2 UT Dhananjaya HADL
5.   Best in Physical:-              TA 31657 AC2 UT    Perera GNM

No 159 Regular Airmen Recruit Course Award Winners:-

1.   Best All Round Recruit:-     TA 32403 AC2 UT   Sandaruwan JAS
2.   Best Shot :-       TA 32418 AC2 UT   Weerasinghe WMKSS
3.   Best Student:-          TA 32362 AC2 UT    Madumal KGA
4..   Best Drill:-                            TA 32413 AC2 UT    Wickramasinghe WS
5.   Best in Physical:-                TA 32403 AC2 UT   Sandaruwan JAS

No 28 Regular Airwomen Recruit Course Award Winners:-

1.   Best All Round Recruit:-   TAW 2112 AC2 UT      Rathnayake RNPK
2.   Best Shot :-                         TAW 2118 AC2 UT   Jayalath JMLS
3.   Best Student:-                    TAW 2252 AC2 UT    Hemanthi PRH
4..   Best Drill:-                        TAW 2172 AC2 UT    Hettiarachchi HAMM
5.   Best in Physical:-              TAW 2112 AC2 UT   Rathnayake RNPK

No 29 Regular Airwomen Recruit Course Award Winners:-

1.   Best All Round Recruit:-    TAW 2186 AC2 UT   Silva ASMB
2.   Best Shot: -      TAW 2187 AC2 UT   Sumanarathne NGMSS
3.   Best Student:-       TAW 2180 AC2 UT    Jayamalee KMDM
4..   Best Drill:-                           TAW 2178 AC2 UT     Hettiarachchi HACHN
5.   Best in Physical:-   TAW 2182 AC2 UT   Madushani