SRI LANKA AIR FORCE PROUDLY JOINS 73RD INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
3:48pm on Thursday 4th February 2021
Today marks the 73rd anniversary of our nation gaining independence from colonial rule. This year’s National Independence Day celebrations were held at the iconic Independence Square under the patronage of the President of the Socialist Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
This year, the Guardians of the Skies under the able leadership of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana proudly participated with the Independence Fly Past and troops of the ceremonial march past. A total of 24 SLAF Aircraft and 700 parade troops on ground participated for the fly past and ceremonial march past.
The arrival of His Excellency the President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the First Lady Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa marked the commencement of the celebrations. The Speaker of Parliament, Ministers, Chief Justice, the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, the Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, the Inspector General of the Police, Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne, State Secretaries, Diplomats and other distinguished dignitaries also graced the occasion.
The National Flag was hoisted by His Excellency the President amidst the beating of “Magul Bera” and blowing of conch shells followed by the singing of the National Anthem by school children. Later, the three service Commanders and the Inspector General of the Police conducted the President to the special dais, opposite which school girls recited Jayamangala Gatha to invoke blessings of the noble Triple Gem on the Nation and also the “Devo Vassatu Kalena” to bless the Nation.
Subsequently, a Guard of Honour followed by a twenty-one Gun Salute was accorded to His Excellency the President by the Armed Forces after which the President’s Independence Day address to the nation was delivered.
Director Air Operations of SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payoe was the overall coordinator of the Independence Day Fly Past which included a Bell 212 Helicopter, Four (4) Bell 412 Helicopters, four (4) MI-17 Helicopters, five (5) Cessna 150 Basic Trainer Aircraft, three (3) Y-12 Light Transport Aircraft, two (2) B200 Surveillance Aircraft, two (2) MA-60 Passenger Transport Aircraft and three (3) F-7 Fighter Jet Aircraft.
Group Captain Nandika Salgado, Squadron Leader Gayan Dharmasiriwardhana, Flight Lieutenant Eranga Gamage and Flight Lieutenant Ishara Mayadunna navigated the air traffic of the fly past while the Aerial Display was coordinated by Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Air Commodore Channa Dissanayake, Group Captain Pradeep Piyaratne and Group Captain Sanoj Jayaratne. The Fly Past Navigators were Group Captain Prasanna Kuruwita, Wing Commander Irshad Mutaliph and Squadron Leader Tharindu Kehelwarawe.
Air Commodore Bandu Edirisinghe, Commandant of the SLAF Academy in China Bay represented the Sri Lanka Air Force as Overall Parade Commander. The SLAF parade comprising of five Squadrons was commanded by Wing Commander Jayarathne Amarasinghe while Squadron Leader Janaka Hettiarachchi commanded the Tri Services Ceremonial Band. The first squadron was commanded by Wing Commander Prasad Kulathunga, the second by Wing Commander Mohan Tiroshana and the third squadron which was made up of airwomen was commanded by Squadron Leader Piumi Jayasundara.
Next, the Special Air Borne Force led by Wing Commander Bhanuka Bandara presented their salute to His Excellency the President followed by the Regiment Special Force Squadron who marched under the leadership of Wing Commander Priyadarshana Hettiarachchi the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Regiment Special Forces Wing at Hingurakgoda.
This year’s mechanical column representing the support elements of the SLAF included an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Air Defence System, Armament and Special Airborne Force Rider Squad.
The mechanical column was led by the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Land Based Air Defence School, Wing Commander Janaka Ranaweera. The UAV element which displayed a Searcher MK-2 System was led by Flight Lieutenant Lakshan Wanigaarachchi. The Air Defence Radar element made up of an Indra MK-2 Radar System was led by Squadron Leader Channa Nandasena followed the L-70 Air Defence Guns. Two display vehicles displayed the surface to Air Missile capabilities of the SLAF and a series of ammunitions which are used by SLAF Fighter Aircraft.
The highlight of the SLAF mechanical column was the Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Explosive Wing element led by Wing Commander Nilendra Perera, the Commanding Officer of the SLAF CBRNE Wing. The SLAF CBRNE Wing were the first to conduct disinfection operations during the COVID-19 pandemic with the disinfection of 33 students who were repatriated form Wuhan China on the 1st of Feb 2020.
The Sri Lanka Air Force Special Airborne Force Rider Squad led by Squadron Leader Nipuna Herath marked the end of the SLAF mechanical column of the 73rd National Independence Day celebrations.
The Chief of Staff of the SLAF, members of the Air Force Board of Management and Air Rank Officers participated for the National Independence Day celebrations.
On conclusion of the celebrations at the Independence Square, the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana proceeded to SLAF Base Ratmalana where he participated for the customary group photograph with all the pilots who flew for the Independence Day Fly Past and also with all other Officers who supported this operation.
This year, the Guardians of the Skies under the able leadership of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana proudly participated with the Independence Fly Past and troops of the ceremonial march past. A total of 24 SLAF Aircraft and 700 parade troops on ground participated for the fly past and ceremonial march past.
The arrival of His Excellency the President, Gotabaya Rajapaksa and the First Lady Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa marked the commencement of the celebrations. The Speaker of Parliament, Ministers, Chief Justice, the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, the Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, the Inspector General of the Police, Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne, State Secretaries, Diplomats and other distinguished dignitaries also graced the occasion.
The National Flag was hoisted by His Excellency the President amidst the beating of “Magul Bera” and blowing of conch shells followed by the singing of the National Anthem by school children. Later, the three service Commanders and the Inspector General of the Police conducted the President to the special dais, opposite which school girls recited Jayamangala Gatha to invoke blessings of the noble Triple Gem on the Nation and also the “Devo Vassatu Kalena” to bless the Nation.
Subsequently, a Guard of Honour followed by a twenty-one Gun Salute was accorded to His Excellency the President by the Armed Forces after which the President’s Independence Day address to the nation was delivered.
Director Air Operations of SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payoe was the overall coordinator of the Independence Day Fly Past which included a Bell 212 Helicopter, Four (4) Bell 412 Helicopters, four (4) MI-17 Helicopters, five (5) Cessna 150 Basic Trainer Aircraft, three (3) Y-12 Light Transport Aircraft, two (2) B200 Surveillance Aircraft, two (2) MA-60 Passenger Transport Aircraft and three (3) F-7 Fighter Jet Aircraft.
Group Captain Nandika Salgado, Squadron Leader Gayan Dharmasiriwardhana, Flight Lieutenant Eranga Gamage and Flight Lieutenant Ishara Mayadunna navigated the air traffic of the fly past while the Aerial Display was coordinated by Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, Air Commodore Channa Dissanayake, Group Captain Pradeep Piyaratne and Group Captain Sanoj Jayaratne. The Fly Past Navigators were Group Captain Prasanna Kuruwita, Wing Commander Irshad Mutaliph and Squadron Leader Tharindu Kehelwarawe.
Air Commodore Bandu Edirisinghe, Commandant of the SLAF Academy in China Bay represented the Sri Lanka Air Force as Overall Parade Commander. The SLAF parade comprising of five Squadrons was commanded by Wing Commander Jayarathne Amarasinghe while Squadron Leader Janaka Hettiarachchi commanded the Tri Services Ceremonial Band. The first squadron was commanded by Wing Commander Prasad Kulathunga, the second by Wing Commander Mohan Tiroshana and the third squadron which was made up of airwomen was commanded by Squadron Leader Piumi Jayasundara.
Next, the Special Air Borne Force led by Wing Commander Bhanuka Bandara presented their salute to His Excellency the President followed by the Regiment Special Force Squadron who marched under the leadership of Wing Commander Priyadarshana Hettiarachchi the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Regiment Special Forces Wing at Hingurakgoda.
This year’s mechanical column representing the support elements of the SLAF included an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Air Defence System, Armament and Special Airborne Force Rider Squad.
The mechanical column was led by the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Land Based Air Defence School, Wing Commander Janaka Ranaweera. The UAV element which displayed a Searcher MK-2 System was led by Flight Lieutenant Lakshan Wanigaarachchi. The Air Defence Radar element made up of an Indra MK-2 Radar System was led by Squadron Leader Channa Nandasena followed the L-70 Air Defence Guns. Two display vehicles displayed the surface to Air Missile capabilities of the SLAF and a series of ammunitions which are used by SLAF Fighter Aircraft.
The highlight of the SLAF mechanical column was the Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Explosive Wing element led by Wing Commander Nilendra Perera, the Commanding Officer of the SLAF CBRNE Wing. The SLAF CBRNE Wing were the first to conduct disinfection operations during the COVID-19 pandemic with the disinfection of 33 students who were repatriated form Wuhan China on the 1st of Feb 2020.
The Sri Lanka Air Force Special Airborne Force Rider Squad led by Squadron Leader Nipuna Herath marked the end of the SLAF mechanical column of the 73rd National Independence Day celebrations.
The Chief of Staff of the SLAF, members of the Air Force Board of Management and Air Rank Officers participated for the National Independence Day celebrations.
On conclusion of the celebrations at the Independence Square, the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana proceeded to SLAF Base Ratmalana where he participated for the customary group photograph with all the pilots who flew for the Independence Day Fly Past and also with all other Officers who supported this operation.
