HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT LAUNCHES THE SLAF 70TH ANNIVERSARY PUBLICATION “GLORY OF IRON WINGS”
10:37pm on Friday 5th March 2021
The launching ceremony of the Sri Lanka Air Force 70th Anniversary Publication, “Glory of Iron Wings” was held today (05 March 2021) at SLAF Base Katunayake under the auspices of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, His Excellency, Gotabaya Rajapaksa.
The event commenced with the arrival of His Excellency the President at the Officers’ Mess at SLAF Base Katunayake after reviewing the Presidential Colour Awarding Parade and also visiting the flying squadron where the visiting Indian Air Force aircraft and air warriors were stationed.
An introductory speech was carried out by the Editor of the publication Air Commodore Channa Dissanayake on the background of bring this very rare and unique publication to light. Air Commodore Dissanayake then invited the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana to present to first copy of this unique publication the Chief Guest, His Excellency the President.
Flowing the presentation of the inaugural copy if “Glory of Iron Wings”, His Excellency the President presented copies of the publication distinguished invitees present for the ceremony. As such, the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of Sri Lanka Army, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Inspector General of Police Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, the Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces of the United States of America were presented with inaugural copies of the publication. There after His Excellency also presented former Commanders of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) PH Mendis, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Oliver Ranasinghe, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Jayalath Weerakkody, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Kolitha Gunathilaka, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Gagan Bulathsinghala and Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Sumangala Dias with copies of the publication.
The event was attended by the Chief of Staff, Members of the Air Force Board of Management along with their spouses as well. The event was conducted with adherence to health guidelines which have been put in place for the prevention of COVID-19.
The event commenced with the arrival of His Excellency the President at the Officers’ Mess at SLAF Base Katunayake after reviewing the Presidential Colour Awarding Parade and also visiting the flying squadron where the visiting Indian Air Force aircraft and air warriors were stationed.
An introductory speech was carried out by the Editor of the publication Air Commodore Channa Dissanayake on the background of bring this very rare and unique publication to light. Air Commodore Dissanayake then invited the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana to present to first copy of this unique publication the Chief Guest, His Excellency the President.
Flowing the presentation of the inaugural copy if “Glory of Iron Wings”, His Excellency the President presented copies of the publication distinguished invitees present for the ceremony. As such, the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and State Ministry of National Security and Disaster Management, General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and the Commander of Sri Lanka Army, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of Sri Lanka Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne, Inspector General of Police Mr. Chandana Wickramaratne, Air Chief Marshal Masihuzzaman Serniabat, the Chief of Air Staff of the Bangladesh Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, the Chief of Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, General Kenneth Wilsbach, Commander of the Pacific Air Forces of the United States of America were presented with inaugural copies of the publication. There after His Excellency also presented former Commanders of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) PH Mendis, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Oliver Ranasinghe, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Jayalath Weerakkody, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Harsha Abeywickrama, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Kolitha Gunathilaka, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Gagan Bulathsinghala and Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Sumangala Dias with copies of the publication.
The event was attended by the Chief of Staff, Members of the Air Force Board of Management along with their spouses as well. The event was conducted with adherence to health guidelines which have been put in place for the prevention of COVID-19.
