The Graduation Ceremony of No 64 Junior Command and Staff Course was held at the JC&SC Auditorium, SLAF Academy China Bay today (16 July 2020). Air Vice Marshal RS Biyanwila, Director Administration graced the ceremony as the Chief Guest.

The ceremony marked the end of the 10-week long course attended by a total of 27 Officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force in the ranks of Squadron Leader and Flight Lieutenant. Course No 64 was the first course to be conducted as a hybrid e-learning/contact class programme and its successful culmination was a landmark achievement.

Course No 64, originally scheduled to commence on 1 April 2020, was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the consequent lock down in Sri Lanka. However, on the initiative of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sumangala Dias and under the guidance of the Commandant of the SLAF Academy, Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, the Commanding Officer, Group Captain Gihan Seneviratne, Directing Staff at the JC & SC and a team of IT Officers from the Directorate of IT detailed for the task by the Director Information Technology, were able to launch the course via e-Learning on 4 May 2020.

After six weeks of e-Learning the officers arrived at the SLAF Academy China Bay and completed their contact phase of a further four weeks before the graduation ceremony. The officers will proceed for their Management module to the Kotalawala Defense University.

The JC&SC is accredited to the Kotelawala Defence University and the Officers who fulfill the required criteria will be offered with a Post Graduate Diploma in Defence Management.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Guest emphasized the importance of applying the knowledge gained to better the Air Force and the nation and also stressed that integrity is a very high priority for Officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

All 27 Officers received certificates of completion from the Chief Guest. Sqn Ldr AMAM Seneviratne (Logistics) received the special awards for Best in Academics, Best Literature Review, Excellence in Air Power Studies and Best All Round Officer of the course while Sqn Ldr MNRS Gunawardene (GD/P) received the award for Best in Public Speaking.

The Award for the best sportsman was awarded to Sqn Ldr AGCST Dharmasena (Ad Reg).