Vavuniya and Katunayake March to Winning Beat
2:41pm on Wednesday 11th August 2010
Teamwork and perfect coordination triumphed when Vavuniya emerged as winners of the Sri Lanka Air Force Inter Unit Drill Competition 2010 held at Katunayake on August 10.
The annual event held for the fourth consecutive time, took place this year at the SLAF Base in Katunayake. Chief of Defense Staff and Commander of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke was Chief Guest at the event. It was a proud moment for all competing teams to display their skills in front of their senior officers as the event saw the participation of several top ranked SLAF personnel.
Out of the 21 teams which initially entered the competition this year, only three managed to secure places at the finals which saw the SLAF Base Vavuniya edge out Diyatalawa and Wirawila who clinched second and third places respectively.
Each team comprising of thirty members displayed a combination of footwork, marching to commands and weapon handling as part of the drill display. However, it was the team led by Flying Officer Deepal Ratnapala that took home the trophy with a score of 3066 points and a 22 point lead.
First up on the field was the squad from Wirawila who displayed some excellent drill with their weapons, in rapid unison. They were followed by the Vavuniya squad, whose team members were notably taller than the others. From fast to slow, this squad glided smoothly across the parade square with poise and elegance, kicking up a thin layer of red dust as their knees moved up and down in perfect synchronization. Last but not least, the squad from Diyatalawa too exhibited skilled rank and file formations on the field with smooth movements and effectively handled slow march movements.
Following the foot columns the SLAF Inter Unit Band Competition also got underway.
The champions of 2010, Katunayake under the leadership of Warrant Officer MYR Premadasa performed a varied medley of songs from ‘Happy Birthday’ on bagpipes, to ‘Vannam’ and even some groovy Spanish tunes! Equally matched in skill were the “Green Wing” Band led by Sergent De Silva KGJ whose drummers performed a lively drum medley with tribal movements and a variation of Sinhala and English songs apart from some well-known marching tunes.
The judges for both events comprised of officials representing the three Armed Forces and this was undoubtedly a tough one for the second panel as both teams performed exceptionally well. So much so that restless little children in the audience sat in pin drop silence through the performances!
Just before the award ceremony the audience was in for another treat as the SLAF Colour Squadron treated them to a first-class drill display accompanied by the Band from SLAF Academy Chinabay. This drill team showcased brilliant formations done in the mode of a Mexican Wave to absolute precision. The grand finale came with gunshots fired in unison of silver confetti, bringing a fitting close to the day’s events.
Drill Competition
1 st - SLAF Vavuniya
2 nd - SLAF Diyathalawa
3 rd - SLAF Wirawila
Band Competition
1 st - SLAF KatunayakE
2 nd - SLAF Diyathalawa
The annual event held for the fourth consecutive time, took place this year at the SLAF Base in Katunayake. Chief of Defense Staff and Commander of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke was Chief Guest at the event. It was a proud moment for all competing teams to display their skills in front of their senior officers as the event saw the participation of several top ranked SLAF personnel.
Out of the 21 teams which initially entered the competition this year, only three managed to secure places at the finals which saw the SLAF Base Vavuniya edge out Diyatalawa and Wirawila who clinched second and third places respectively.
Each team comprising of thirty members displayed a combination of footwork, marching to commands and weapon handling as part of the drill display. However, it was the team led by Flying Officer Deepal Ratnapala that took home the trophy with a score of 3066 points and a 22 point lead.
First up on the field was the squad from Wirawila who displayed some excellent drill with their weapons, in rapid unison. They were followed by the Vavuniya squad, whose team members were notably taller than the others. From fast to slow, this squad glided smoothly across the parade square with poise and elegance, kicking up a thin layer of red dust as their knees moved up and down in perfect synchronization. Last but not least, the squad from Diyatalawa too exhibited skilled rank and file formations on the field with smooth movements and effectively handled slow march movements.
Following the foot columns the SLAF Inter Unit Band Competition also got underway.
The champions of 2010, Katunayake under the leadership of Warrant Officer MYR Premadasa performed a varied medley of songs from ‘Happy Birthday’ on bagpipes, to ‘Vannam’ and even some groovy Spanish tunes! Equally matched in skill were the “Green Wing” Band led by Sergent De Silva KGJ whose drummers performed a lively drum medley with tribal movements and a variation of Sinhala and English songs apart from some well-known marching tunes.
The judges for both events comprised of officials representing the three Armed Forces and this was undoubtedly a tough one for the second panel as both teams performed exceptionally well. So much so that restless little children in the audience sat in pin drop silence through the performances!
Just before the award ceremony the audience was in for another treat as the SLAF Colour Squadron treated them to a first-class drill display accompanied by the Band from SLAF Academy Chinabay. This drill team showcased brilliant formations done in the mode of a Mexican Wave to absolute precision. The grand finale came with gunshots fired in unison of silver confetti, bringing a fitting close to the day’s events.
Drill Competition
1 st - SLAF Vavuniya
2 nd - SLAF Diyathalawa
3 rd - SLAF Wirawila
Band Competition
1 st - SLAF KatunayakE
2 nd - SLAF Diyathalawa
