The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana and Mrs. Charmini Pathirana were among distinguished guests at the 50th Bangladesh Armed Forces Day celebration held on Sunday (21 November 2021) at Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo at the invitation of the Bangladesh’s Armed Forces.

The Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Rtd), the Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva and the Navy Commander Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugethenna also participated for the event.

The Bangladesh Armed Forces on 21 November every year celebrate their Armed Forces Day and this year marked the 50th Anniversary. The High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, His Excellency Tareq Md Ariful Islam hosted the reception to mark this historical milestone.

During the Liberation War in 1971, on this day, the brave members of Bangladesh Army, Navy and Air Force along with the freedom fighters from all walks of life, organized under the joint operational command launched an all-out attack on the occupation force. The decisive attack from all fronts brought in a great tactical as well as a strategic advantage in the war theatre and ultimately resulted in the victory on 16 December 1971. Hence Bangladesh emerged as an independent and sovereign state.