“Excellence is not a skill, it is an attitude!” Said Ralph Marston.  In the Air Force we strive constantly and persistently for excellence in the hope and expectation that in doing so we shall affect a change of attitude that will empower us to take the Air Force and our nation to a better tomorrow.

The Sri Lanka Air Force Excellence Awards 2016 was held at the Eagles’ Lagoon View Banquet Hall at Katunayake on 07 March 2017 with the participation of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy.  This annual event is held to recognize and appreciate meritorious work of the men and women of the Air Force and to motivate them to strive for continued excellence.

Based on criteria established by the respective directorates, finalists are nominated for consideration to be honoured for outstanding performance in each trade and for their contribution to the development of the SLAF during the year 2016. Accordingly, the candidate who obtains the highest points from the selection process is awarded the "Most Outstanding Airman" trophy.  25416 F/Sgt Jayaweera JAAS (Acct Asst Sp I) at SLAF TTS Ekala ,was awarded the Most Outstanding Airman for the Year 2016.

A new feature in this year’s Excellence Awards was the introduction of the award for the best Quality Circle. This feature has been introduced from 2016 onwards to promote the establishment of QCCs at each Air Force establishment and formations with the majority involvement of non-managerial level work force on a volunteer basis to improve workplace productivity.  Nominations received from the respective Cmdt/Base Commander/CO were initially assessed by the Command Quality Assurance Inspectorate as per the published criteria and the three best circles were evaluated by the standing board and the QCC of E&TE Wing SLAF Ratmalana were adjudged winners of the inaugural Best QCC of the year award.

Award winners of the Excellence Awards 2016 were

Best Support Services Tradesman
17235 MWO DM Podibanda Provost I

Best Grd Ops Tradesman
21289 Sgt Liyanaarachchi SK Ops Grd Sp I

Best Health Services Tradesman
25058 Sgt Indika STR Dental Tech I

Best Admin Tradesman
25416 F/Sgt Jayaweera JAAS Acct Asst Sp I

Best Logistics Tradesman
23989 Sgt Fernando LDPS Cat Asst

Best Civil Engineering Tradesman
027860 LAC Krishantha KAJ A/Con & Ref III

Best E&T Engineering Tradesman
27359 Sgt Dharshana Kumara HAS Air Radio Fitter

Best General Engineering Tradesman
23148 F/Sgt Liyanagamage N AC Welder

Best Aero Engineering Tradesman
28482 Sgt Punchihewa AC Aero E&I

Best research Team
Team Leader
Sqn Ldr TNP De Silva
Members
17153 WO KD Ajith Kumara
17156 WO NBR Susantha
25199 Sgt Silva PHLN
28482 Sgt Punchihewa AC

Best QCC
Team Leader
Flt Lt NPMP Dharmasena
Members
23169 F/Sgt Deshapriya UKGS
25698 F/Sgt Gunarathna DNA
27168 Sgt Sanjeewa DMR
31679 Cpl Bandara NGT
30964 Cpl Udayanga WAJS
32692 Cpl Silva MDA

The awards ceremony was followed by a reception for the award winners and their families attended by the Chief Guest and the invitees.