The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy, ceremonially handed over a Fully Equipped Water Fire Tender and signed an MOU with the Diyawadana Nilame Pradeep Nilanga Dela, to establish a Fire and Rescue Unit at the Temple of the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, today.
 
The project is the result of a request made by temple officials and constitutes the second of three phases of a comprehensive fire and rescue plan for the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the its environs.  The overall coordination of the project is handled by Director Air Operations, Air Vice Marshal SK Pathirana.
 
The First Phase consisted of a thorough survey of the existing systems and the revamping of the defective hydrant systems and pumps, upgrading of the First Aid Fire Appliances, conducting of awareness training and the introduction of Standard Operating Procedures.  The third and final phase will involve a comprehensive project to establish detection and flooding system  using the latest appliances and technologies in the field of contemporary fire prevention.

Chairperson Sri Lanka Air Force Seva Vanitha Unit Mrs. Anoma Jayampathy, Director Civil Engineering Air Vice Marshal Ruchira Samarasinghe, Chief Fire Officer Squadron Leader Chamila Hettiarachchi, Senior Officers, other ranks and Officials from the Temple of Tooth Relic also witnessed the event.