AIR CHIEF MARSHAL PH MENDIS (RETD) FELICITATED ON 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF ASSUMING OFFICE
8:58pm on Friday 1st January 2021
Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Pathman Hariprasadha Mendis FBIM, idc, psc, qfi popularly known as “Paddy Mendis” was born on the 24th of January 1933. He joined the newly formed Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) as its fifth recruit on the 8th of August 1951. After enlistment, then Officer Cadet Mendis was sent to Britain for training at the prestigious Royal Air Force College in Cranwell. In 1959, then Flight Lieutenant Mendis was sent to the RAF Central Flying School to be trained as Flying Instructors at RAF Little Rissington in Gloucestershire. He was the first Ceylonese to be trained as a Qualified Flying Instructor.
Air Chief Marshal PH Mendis made steady progression through the ranks of Pilot Officer to Air Commodore and was appointed as the 4th Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force on the 1st of January 1971, exactly 50 years ago. He was the first Ceylonese Officer to command Royal Ceylon Air Force, who also started his career in the same organization as well. With Ceylon becoming a Republic in 1972, the Royal Ceylon Air Force changed its name to the Sri Lanka Air Force along with all its insignia and Air Vice Marshal PH Mendis became the first commander of Sri Lanka Air Force.
With this proud heritage in mind and under the direct supervision of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, a special Felicitation Ceremony was arranged today (01 January 2021) for Air Chief Marshal PH Mendis (Retd) at the Air Force Museum located at SLAF Base Ratmalana.
The ceremony commenced with the according of a ceremonial guard of honour to Air Chief Marshal PH Mendis (Retd) by the SLAF Colour Wing. He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal RP Liyanagamage and the Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana, Air Commodore LC Dissanayake. After which, Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) was conducted to the Gallery of the Commanders where a special portrait of himself was unveiled by him. The Secretary of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) participated for the event as the Guest of Honour.
Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) together with all distinguished attendees of the function were conducted to the main hangar of the Air Force Museum where the felicitation ceremony took place. The Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana, Air Commodore LC Dissanayake made the official welcome address after which a celebratory cake was cut by Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) flanked by the Guest of Honour, Former Commanders of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.
The Guest of Honour, Secretary of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) made a special address where he appreciated and congratulated Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) on reaching this historic milestone.
Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) was then presented with a special memento in the form of an Air Force Ceremonial Sword and also another special memento by the Guest of Honour General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd). Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) also made an address to the distinguished gathering where he took the audience back in time to the days when he served in the Air Force. He also conveyed his sincere gratitude to the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana for organizing an event of this magnitude in honour of him.
The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana made concluding remarks where he highlighted key and turning points of the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) as the Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force as well as the first Commander of the newly renamed, Sri Lanka Air Force. With the concluding remarks by the Commander the grand ceremony came to an end.
Air Chief Marshal PH Mendis made steady progression through the ranks of Pilot Officer to Air Commodore and was appointed as the 4th Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force on the 1st of January 1971, exactly 50 years ago. He was the first Ceylonese Officer to command Royal Ceylon Air Force, who also started his career in the same organization as well. With Ceylon becoming a Republic in 1972, the Royal Ceylon Air Force changed its name to the Sri Lanka Air Force along with all its insignia and Air Vice Marshal PH Mendis became the first commander of Sri Lanka Air Force.
With this proud heritage in mind and under the direct supervision of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, a special Felicitation Ceremony was arranged today (01 January 2021) for Air Chief Marshal PH Mendis (Retd) at the Air Force Museum located at SLAF Base Ratmalana.
The ceremony commenced with the according of a ceremonial guard of honour to Air Chief Marshal PH Mendis (Retd) by the SLAF Colour Wing. He was accompanied by Air Vice Marshal RP Liyanagamage and the Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana, Air Commodore LC Dissanayake. After which, Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) was conducted to the Gallery of the Commanders where a special portrait of himself was unveiled by him. The Secretary of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) participated for the event as the Guest of Honour.
Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) together with all distinguished attendees of the function were conducted to the main hangar of the Air Force Museum where the felicitation ceremony took place. The Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana, Air Commodore LC Dissanayake made the official welcome address after which a celebratory cake was cut by Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) flanked by the Guest of Honour, Former Commanders of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.
The Guest of Honour, Secretary of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd) made a special address where he appreciated and congratulated Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) on reaching this historic milestone.
Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) was then presented with a special memento in the form of an Air Force Ceremonial Sword and also another special memento by the Guest of Honour General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd). Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) also made an address to the distinguished gathering where he took the audience back in time to the days when he served in the Air Force. He also conveyed his sincere gratitude to the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana for organizing an event of this magnitude in honour of him.
The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana made concluding remarks where he highlighted key and turning points of the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Mendis (Retd) as the Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force as well as the first Commander of the newly renamed, Sri Lanka Air Force. With the concluding remarks by the Commander the grand ceremony came to an end.
