SLAF SPREADS THE JOY OF THE SEASON WITH “CHRISTMAS IN THE ARCTIC”
12:43pm on Tuesday 21st December 2021
The Sri Lanka Air Force Christmas Carols 2021 was held last night (20 December 2021) to spread the joy of the season with “Christmas in the Arctic”. On the invitation of the Chairperson of the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Charmini Pathirana and the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, this starry event was held under the patronage of the First Lady of Sri Lanka, Mrs. Ioma Rajapaksa at the Eagles’ Lake Side Banquet and Convention Hall in Attidiya. The Air Force Christmas Carols was held this year after a laps of two years as the COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country did not permit such an event in 2020.
The Chief Guest was received by Mrs. Charmini Pathirana and Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at the entrance of the Eagles’ Lakeside and conducted through an igloo in to the winter wonderland created for the occasion. This year the Air Force Choir under the supervision of the Director Performing Arts, Group Captain Anuruddha Wijesiriwardane was made up of members of the Directorate of Performing Arts and saw Squadron Leader Gayan Joseph at the helm as the Choir Master for the first time in the history of Air Force Carol Performances. The event was hosted by Squadron Leaders Radhika Ranaweera and Lilangi Randeni and the SLAF Dancing Troop created the magic of Christmas by performing the colorful nativity scenes.
The Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonatilleke and Mrs Nelun Goonatilleke, the Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit to the Ministry of Defence, Mrs. Chithrani Gunaratne together with the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), the Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva and Mrs. Sujeeva Nelson, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and Mrs. Chandima Ulugetenne, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Members of the Air Force Board of Management with their spouses, were among the distinguished invitees this year.
This year’s Air Force Christmas Carols was held with restricted participation due to the COVID-19 situation in the country and rapid antigen tests were carried out on all invites as well, in order to prevent any unexpected situations.
The Chief Guest was received by Mrs. Charmini Pathirana and Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at the entrance of the Eagles’ Lakeside and conducted through an igloo in to the winter wonderland created for the occasion. This year the Air Force Choir under the supervision of the Director Performing Arts, Group Captain Anuruddha Wijesiriwardane was made up of members of the Directorate of Performing Arts and saw Squadron Leader Gayan Joseph at the helm as the Choir Master for the first time in the history of Air Force Carol Performances. The event was hosted by Squadron Leaders Radhika Ranaweera and Lilangi Randeni and the SLAF Dancing Troop created the magic of Christmas by performing the colorful nativity scenes.
The Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonatilleke and Mrs Nelun Goonatilleke, the Chairperson of the Seva Vanitha Unit to the Ministry of Defence, Mrs. Chithrani Gunaratne together with the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), the Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army, General Shavendra Silva and Mrs. Sujeeva Nelson, the Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Nishantha Ulugetenne and Mrs. Chandima Ulugetenne, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Members of the Air Force Board of Management with their spouses, were among the distinguished invitees this year.
This year’s Air Force Christmas Carols was held with restricted participation due to the COVID-19 situation in the country and rapid antigen tests were carried out on all invites as well, in order to prevent any unexpected situations.
