The 17th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Sumangala Dias ceremonially handed over command of the Sri Lanka Air Force to Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, this morning (2nd November 2020) at AFHQ.

The outgoing Commander was accorded a Guard of Honour by the Colour Wing of the SLAF. After which the outgoing Commander addressed the entire Air Force for the very last time. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the outgoing Commander handed over the ceremonial baton symbolizing the change of command in the Sri Lanka Air Force. The ceremony was attended by members of the Air Force Board of Management, Officers and Other Ranks at Air Force Headquarters and SLAF Station Colombo.

Following the ceremonial parade, the customary Dining-Out Night was held at the Officers’ Mess of SLAF Base Katunayake. This event was held to honour the services of Air Chief Marshal Sumangala Dias and his lovely wife, Mrs. Mayuri Prabhavi Dias. It is customary in the Air Force to ceremonially dine out an outgoing Air Chief. At the end of the event, the outgoing Commander and his lady were seated in a Bell 212 Helicopter and towed away from the Officers’ Mess symbolizing their departure from the Air Force.