AIR VICE MARSHAL JANAKA AMERASINGHE BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
10:08pm on Tuesday 20th September 2022
Air Vice Marshal Janaka Amerasinghe RSP, USP, MDS, MHRM, MSSD, BSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, ndc (Ban), psc bid adieu to the Sri Lanka Air Force today (20 September 2022) after more than 36 years of dedicated service to the nation. At the time of his retirement, he held the appointment of Director Ground Operations of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at his office today. 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 stakeholder during the time of need of our motherland and his illustrious career will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and the Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. Moreover, Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe handed over the publications of ‘Historical Case Studies on Air Base Attacks from 1987 to 2008 and ‘Standard Operation Procedure for Directorate of Ground Operations’ to the Commander. 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 Janaka Amerasinghe joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 09th December 1986 to the 17th Intake as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Regiment Branch in the year 1988. During his training period he has successfully completed the initial combat training at Sri Lanka Air Force Diyatalawa before completing the advanced training as an Administrative Regiment Officer Cadet. After completion of training in the year 1988 he was posted to the Regiment Wing of Sri Lanka Air Force Base China Bay as a Flight Commander and then to Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake as the Regiment Adjutant. In 1993, he successfully completed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course at Explosive Ordnance Training School which was then at Sri Lanka Air Force Station Sigiriya.
During his tour of duty in the Sri Lanka Air Force, he has held many key appointments such as, Officer Commanding ‘Alpha Wing’ Special Operations Group at Mankulam, where he played an active role in the operational commitments in the Vanni operational theater by providing ground support to Sri Lanka Army troops. Thereafter, he was posted to the Regiment Wing of Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana as the Officer Commanding Defence where he was actively involved in successfully safeguarding the Air Base from a possible enemy attack. He has been commanding many Sri Lanka Air Force establishments such as Sri Lanka Air Force Station Sigiriya, Palaly at two separate occasions, the SLAF Trade Training School at Ekala, the Combat Training School at Diyatalawa, Stations at Bandaranayke International Airport and Colombo. Further, he also held the staff and command appointments such as the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Command Recruiting Officer in addition to the training appointments as Head of the Training Team at the Air Wing of the Defence Services Command and Staff College Sapugaskanda, Commanding Officer of the Junior Command and Staff College at the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay. During his period of active service in the Sri Lanka Air Force, he has steadily achieved many professional milestones in his career and was appointed as the Director Ground Operations.
Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe has also made many academic achievements by completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Masters in Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya and Masters in Human Resource Management from University of Colombo. He has successfully completed his Junior Command and Staff Course at Command and Staff Training Institute of Bangladesh Air Force, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course in Pakistan, Senior Staff Course at the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Command and Staff College China, Special Operations Combating Terrorism Course in Joint Special Operations University at MacDill Air Force Base Florida USA, United Nations Military Observer Course at the Malaysian Peacekeeping Training Center Port Dickson Malaysia, Defence Management Course at the Collage of Defence Management in Secunderabad India. He is also an alumni of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii USA. He attended the National Defence College, Bangladesh in which earned the distinguished title of "ndc". In addition, he was awarded with a Master of Social Science in Security and Development from Bangladesh University of Professionals.
Moreover he attended many International and Local programmes and workshops in the countries such as Bangladesh, India and Mongolia. Further he was the Mission Commander from Sri Lanka Air Force for the Pacific Angle 13-4 Sri Lanka Medical and Engineering Mission held at Jaffna Peninsula in conjunction with United States Pacific Air Forces.
During his military career, he has been awarded with 'Rana Sura Padakkama' for the distinguished conduct in face of the enemy, Uththama Sewa Padakkama for exceptional ability and unblemished conduct. The other medals that was awarded to him are ‘Purna Bhumi Padakkama’, ‘North and East Operations Medal’, ‘50th Anniversary (SLAF) Medal’, ‘Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal’, ‘Rivirasa Campaign Service Medal’, ‘50th Independence Anniversary Medal’, North and East Humanitarian Operational Medals for exemplary leadership and dedicated service.
Apart from his professional ground combat career, in sports he has played Rugby, Football at College and clubs level such as Kandy and Air Force Sports Clubs. He was a member of the Sri Lanka Air Force Sport Council and has held the appointments of Chairman Kabaddi, Weightlifting and Rugby and finally ended up in the Advisory Board for Sports in the Sri Lanka Air Force. He was also the President of National Rifle Association of Sri Lanka.
Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at his office today. 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 stakeholder during the time of need of our motherland and his illustrious career will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and the Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. Moreover, Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe handed over the publications of ‘Historical Case Studies on Air Base Attacks from 1987 to 2008 and ‘Standard Operation Procedure for Directorate of Ground Operations’ to the Commander. 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 Janaka Amerasinghe joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 09th December 1986 to the 17th Intake as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Regiment Branch in the year 1988. During his training period he has successfully completed the initial combat training at Sri Lanka Air Force Diyatalawa before completing the advanced training as an Administrative Regiment Officer Cadet. After completion of training in the year 1988 he was posted to the Regiment Wing of Sri Lanka Air Force Base China Bay as a Flight Commander and then to Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake as the Regiment Adjutant. In 1993, he successfully completed the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course at Explosive Ordnance Training School which was then at Sri Lanka Air Force Station Sigiriya.
During his tour of duty in the Sri Lanka Air Force, he has held many key appointments such as, Officer Commanding ‘Alpha Wing’ Special Operations Group at Mankulam, where he played an active role in the operational commitments in the Vanni operational theater by providing ground support to Sri Lanka Army troops. Thereafter, he was posted to the Regiment Wing of Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana as the Officer Commanding Defence where he was actively involved in successfully safeguarding the Air Base from a possible enemy attack. He has been commanding many Sri Lanka Air Force establishments such as Sri Lanka Air Force Station Sigiriya, Palaly at two separate occasions, the SLAF Trade Training School at Ekala, the Combat Training School at Diyatalawa, Stations at Bandaranayke International Airport and Colombo. Further, he also held the staff and command appointments such as the Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and the Command Recruiting Officer in addition to the training appointments as Head of the Training Team at the Air Wing of the Defence Services Command and Staff College Sapugaskanda, Commanding Officer of the Junior Command and Staff College at the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay. During his period of active service in the Sri Lanka Air Force, he has steadily achieved many professional milestones in his career and was appointed as the Director Ground Operations.
Air Vice Marshal Amerasinghe has also made many academic achievements by completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Management from Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Masters in Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya and Masters in Human Resource Management from University of Colombo. He has successfully completed his Junior Command and Staff Course at Command and Staff Training Institute of Bangladesh Air Force, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Course in Pakistan, Senior Staff Course at the People’s Liberation Army Air Force Command and Staff College China, Special Operations Combating Terrorism Course in Joint Special Operations University at MacDill Air Force Base Florida USA, United Nations Military Observer Course at the Malaysian Peacekeeping Training Center Port Dickson Malaysia, Defence Management Course at the Collage of Defence Management in Secunderabad India. He is also an alumni of the Asia Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii USA. He attended the National Defence College, Bangladesh in which earned the distinguished title of "ndc". In addition, he was awarded with a Master of Social Science in Security and Development from Bangladesh University of Professionals.
Moreover he attended many International and Local programmes and workshops in the countries such as Bangladesh, India and Mongolia. Further he was the Mission Commander from Sri Lanka Air Force for the Pacific Angle 13-4 Sri Lanka Medical and Engineering Mission held at Jaffna Peninsula in conjunction with United States Pacific Air Forces.
During his military career, he has been awarded with 'Rana Sura Padakkama' for the distinguished conduct in face of the enemy, Uththama Sewa Padakkama for exceptional ability and unblemished conduct. The other medals that was awarded to him are ‘Purna Bhumi Padakkama’, ‘North and East Operations Medal’, ‘50th Anniversary (SLAF) Medal’, ‘Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal’, ‘Rivirasa Campaign Service Medal’, ‘50th Independence Anniversary Medal’, North and East Humanitarian Operational Medals for exemplary leadership and dedicated service.
Apart from his professional ground combat career, in sports he has played Rugby, Football at College and clubs level such as Kandy and Air Force Sports Clubs. He was a member of the Sri Lanka Air Force Sport Council and has held the appointments of Chairman Kabaddi, Weightlifting and Rugby and finally ended up in the Advisory Board for Sports in the Sri Lanka Air Force. He was also the President of National Rifle Association of Sri Lanka.
