PRESS BRIEFING ON 70 TH AIR FORCE ANNIVERSARY, GUWAN HAMUDA PAPEDI SAWARIYA AND COMMANDER’S CUP RUGBY TOURNAMENT 2021
9:19pm on Wednesday 17th February 2021
The press briefing of the "70th Air Force Anniversary", the 22nd consecutive “Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya 2021” and the amateur “Air Force Commander’s Cup League Inter Club 7A Division Rugby Tournament 2021” was held at the Air Force Headquarters, Colombo today (17th February 2021).
A highlight at the event was the unveiling of the official logo for the 70th anniversary by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.
The Sri Lanka Air Force will be proudly celebrating its 70th Anniversary on the 2nd of March 2021. In upholding its rich tradition, the "AIR FORCE DAY" will be the premier event in its calendar. This year, the event will be celebrated incline to the strict health guidelines in place for prevention of COVID-19.
This year celebrations for the 70th Air Force Day will commence with a “Pichcha Mal Pooja” on the eve of 1st March at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya with the participation of the Commander and a cross section of Officers, Other Ranks and Civilians.
The formal Air Force Day will be celebrated at SLAF Base Katunayake taking the lead on the 2nd of March with all SLAF establishments also joining in. The Air Force Day parade will be held at Air Force Base Katunayake under the auspices of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. After, which the Commander will make an address to SLAF personnel at SLAF Base Katunayake and the address will be streamed live to all SLAF establishments. After the ceremonial proceedings the 70th Anniversary, special commemorative cover and stamp will be launched in line with the celebration.
A Presidential Colour Awarding Parade will also be held on 05th of March 2021 at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake where the Presidential Colours will be awarded to the No.05 Fighter Squadron and No. 06 Helicopter Squadron, in recognition of their outstanding service to the nation.
“Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya -2021” will be conducted for the 22nd consecutive year in concurrence with the 70th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Over one hundred male and thirty female Sri Lankan ranking and other riders are expected to compete for this year’s race.
The men’s race will start on 7th of March 2021 from Air Force Headquarters Colombo. It will cover an approximate distance of 160 Km while the women’s race will start on same day form SLAF TTS Ekala and will cover an approximate distance of 76 Km. The awards ceremony will be held at SLAF Base Katunayake.
While the Press Brief was conducted with the Director Air Operations, Overall Coordinator of SLAF 70th Anniversary Celebration and Chairman SLAF Cycling, Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payoe chairing it, Secretary SLAF Cycling, Air Commodore Kithsiri Leelaratne also participated as a panel member.
The amateur “Air Force Commander’s Cup League Inter Club 7A Division Rugby Tournament-2021” is arranged to revamp the sport of Rugby in Sri Lanka as it has been adversely affected due to the global pandemic situation prior to the commencement of the last year’s rugby season. SLAF is taking the lead to organize the tournament along with the assistance of Sri Lanka Rugby and with the approval of the Ministry of Health and blessings of the Ministry of Sports. The tournament is to scrum down on 20th and 21st March 2021 for the 1st Leg followed by the 2nd Leg on 26th and 27th March 2021 at the Air Force Rugby Grounds Ratmalana. The Rugby Press Brief was conducted by the Commanding Officer of SLAF Station Colombo and Chairman SLAF Rugby, Air Vice Marshal Janaka Amarasinghe along with Secretary SLAF Rugby, Group Captain Dharaka Dias. The Overall Coordinator of SLAF 70th Anniversary Celebrations and Director Media of the SLAF, Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe participated for both press briefs as a panel member.
This year SLT Mobitel joins hands as the main sponsor of the cycle race and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) as the electronic media partner. At the conclusion of press briefing, the symbolic sponsorship cheque was handed over to the Commander by the Head of Special Projects Management Office of SLT Mobitel, Mr. Nalin Gamage.
A highlight at the event was the unveiling of the official logo for the 70th anniversary by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.
The Sri Lanka Air Force will be proudly celebrating its 70th Anniversary on the 2nd of March 2021. In upholding its rich tradition, the "AIR FORCE DAY" will be the premier event in its calendar. This year, the event will be celebrated incline to the strict health guidelines in place for prevention of COVID-19.
This year celebrations for the 70th Air Force Day will commence with a “Pichcha Mal Pooja” on the eve of 1st March at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya with the participation of the Commander and a cross section of Officers, Other Ranks and Civilians.
The formal Air Force Day will be celebrated at SLAF Base Katunayake taking the lead on the 2nd of March with all SLAF establishments also joining in. The Air Force Day parade will be held at Air Force Base Katunayake under the auspices of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana. After, which the Commander will make an address to SLAF personnel at SLAF Base Katunayake and the address will be streamed live to all SLAF establishments. After the ceremonial proceedings the 70th Anniversary, special commemorative cover and stamp will be launched in line with the celebration.
A Presidential Colour Awarding Parade will also be held on 05th of March 2021 at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake where the Presidential Colours will be awarded to the No.05 Fighter Squadron and No. 06 Helicopter Squadron, in recognition of their outstanding service to the nation.
“Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya -2021” will be conducted for the 22nd consecutive year in concurrence with the 70th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force. Over one hundred male and thirty female Sri Lankan ranking and other riders are expected to compete for this year’s race.
The men’s race will start on 7th of March 2021 from Air Force Headquarters Colombo. It will cover an approximate distance of 160 Km while the women’s race will start on same day form SLAF TTS Ekala and will cover an approximate distance of 76 Km. The awards ceremony will be held at SLAF Base Katunayake.
While the Press Brief was conducted with the Director Air Operations, Overall Coordinator of SLAF 70th Anniversary Celebration and Chairman SLAF Cycling, Air Vice Marshal Prasanna Payoe chairing it, Secretary SLAF Cycling, Air Commodore Kithsiri Leelaratne also participated as a panel member.
The amateur “Air Force Commander’s Cup League Inter Club 7A Division Rugby Tournament-2021” is arranged to revamp the sport of Rugby in Sri Lanka as it has been adversely affected due to the global pandemic situation prior to the commencement of the last year’s rugby season. SLAF is taking the lead to organize the tournament along with the assistance of Sri Lanka Rugby and with the approval of the Ministry of Health and blessings of the Ministry of Sports. The tournament is to scrum down on 20th and 21st March 2021 for the 1st Leg followed by the 2nd Leg on 26th and 27th March 2021 at the Air Force Rugby Grounds Ratmalana. The Rugby Press Brief was conducted by the Commanding Officer of SLAF Station Colombo and Chairman SLAF Rugby, Air Vice Marshal Janaka Amarasinghe along with Secretary SLAF Rugby, Group Captain Dharaka Dias. The Overall Coordinator of SLAF 70th Anniversary Celebrations and Director Media of the SLAF, Group Captain Dushan Wijesinghe participated for both press briefs as a panel member.
This year SLT Mobitel joins hands as the main sponsor of the cycle race and Sri Lanka Rupavahini Corporation (SLRC) as the electronic media partner. At the conclusion of press briefing, the symbolic sponsorship cheque was handed over to the Commander by the Head of Special Projects Management Office of SLT Mobitel, Mr. Nalin Gamage.
