AIR VICE MARSHAL SAMPATH THUYACONTHA BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
6:14pm on Friday 26th November 2021
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha WWV, RWP and two bars, RSP and bar, USP, MMSc (Strat Stu- China), MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MSc (Def & Strat Stu), fndu (China), psc bid adieu to the Sri Lanka Air Force today (26 November 2021) after completing more than 33 years of dedicated service to the nation. At the time of his retirement, he held the appointment of Director Training of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Thuyacontha made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at his office this morning. The Commander commended him for his dedicated long years of service rendered to the Nation and to the Sri Lanka Air Force in particular. The Commander also emphasized that he was one of the key stakeholders during the time of need of our motherland and that his heroic history will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and the Air Vice Marshal exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. After which, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before he departed Air Force Headquarters for the last time.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha was born in Colombo on the 26th of November 1966. He is a proud product of Thurstan Collage Colombo where he excelled in Rugby during his school days. He has represented the 1st XV Rugby Team of Thurstan College and was selected and represented Colombo Schools Rugby Team in the year 1986. Further, he was awarded with School Rugby Colors in year 1986.
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 17th of May 1988 to the 19th Intake as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch in the year 1990. During his training period he has successfully completed the Basic Combat Training, Basic Flying Training, Basic and Advanced Helicopter Training Courses.
After completion of training in the year 1990 he was deployed for flying duties as an operational pilot in Bell 212/412 helicopters. In 2001, he was posted to No 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron, Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda as the Second in Command and later was appointed as the Commanding Officer in the year 2005. During his long tenure, he has actively participated for all major operations which includes Humantarian War to liberate North and East and he managed to log more than 7000 flying hours as an Operations/ VIP and Attack Helicopter Pilot of Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Thuyacontha has also served as the Defense Adviser to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad, Pakistan for a period of two years and as the Chief Instructor of the Defence Services Command and Staff Collage in the year 2014.
Air Vice Marshal Thuyacontha made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at his office this morning. The Commander commended him for his dedicated long years of service rendered to the Nation and to the Sri Lanka Air Force in particular. The Commander also emphasized that he was one of the key stakeholders during the time of need of our motherland and that his heroic history will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and the Air Vice Marshal exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. After which, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before he departed Air Force Headquarters for the last time.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha was born in Colombo on the 26th of November 1966. He is a proud product of Thurstan Collage Colombo where he excelled in Rugby during his school days. He has represented the 1st XV Rugby Team of Thurstan College and was selected and represented Colombo Schools Rugby Team in the year 1986. Further, he was awarded with School Rugby Colors in year 1986.
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 17th of May 1988 to the 19th Intake as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch in the year 1990. During his training period he has successfully completed the Basic Combat Training, Basic Flying Training, Basic and Advanced Helicopter Training Courses.
After completion of training in the year 1990 he was deployed for flying duties as an operational pilot in Bell 212/412 helicopters. In 2001, he was posted to No 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron, Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda as the Second in Command and later was appointed as the Commanding Officer in the year 2005. During his long tenure, he has actively participated for all major operations which includes Humantarian War to liberate North and East and he managed to log more than 7000 flying hours as an Operations/ VIP and Attack Helicopter Pilot of Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Thuyacontha has also served as the Defense Adviser to the High Commission of Sri Lanka in Islamabad, Pakistan for a period of two years and as the Chief Instructor of the Defence Services Command and Staff Collage in the year 2014.
For his individual acts of gallantry and bravery in the face of the enemy during the Humanitarian Operations he has been decorated with “Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya” (WWV), “Rana Wickrama Padakkama” (RWP) and “Rana Sura Padakkama” (RSP) on several occasions.
