The fourth annual memorial oration of the late General Deshamanya Denis Perera, organized by the Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers (ARFRO), was conducted by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshall Gagan Bulathsinghala at the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University on 11th August 2016.

Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala delivered the memorial oration under the theme of “Integrity, Professionalism and Empathy, the Ethos of Officering”, in remembering the memories of the late General Denis Perera with an utmost respect.

State Minister of Defence Hon. Ruwan Wijewardene, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Eng. Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Service Commanders and a large gathering of both serving and retired officers of tri-services and relatives of General Deshamanya Denis Perera participated at the event.

The late General Deshamanya Denis Perera, a past student of St. Peter’s College, served as the Commander of the Army from 1977 to 1981. Following his retirement from the Army, he was appointed as the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Australia. Later, he became the Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. In honour of his commendable service to the nation, he was awarded the title of Deshamanya by the Government of Sri Lanka in 2000.