Launch of SLAF 60th Anniversary logo & Guwan Hamudha Papedi Sawariya
8:59am on Friday 31st December 2010
Launch of Official Logo
The maiden press conference in lieu of the Sri Lanka Air Force 60th anniversary celebrations was held on 30 December, 2010 at the SLAF Headquarters Auditorium chaired by Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke.
A highlight at the event was the unveiling of the official logo for the 60th anniversary by the Commander of the Air Force. The skillfully constructed logo symbolizes the journey of excellence in aviation of the organization. The official logo will be carried on specially designed float during the annual "Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya" and will be the symbol under which all commemoration activities will be conducted for the 60th Anniversary commencing this evening. After the cycling event the Logo will be carried from Colombo to Buttala on a specially designed float once again for the Deyata Kirula Exhibition where it will be on display. The construction of this symbolic logo was done by Squadron Leader Surendra Munasinghe, whilst the aircraft models on it were manufactured by the SLAF Model Aircraft workshop at SLAF Station Ekala.
The forthcoming year is poised to be eventful for SLAF when it celebrates 6 decades of glory and dedicated services on 2 March, 2011. Addressing the press the Commander emphasized the progress of the Air Force, making special mention of the Humanitarian Operations of 2006 as a defining moment in the history of the organization.
“Within the course of a short time of three and half years, the Air Force gave its fullest support to end terrorism in the country, by assisting the Army and Navy as well as providing relief for civilians. We worked as a team for this cause,” the Commander told the gathering. The fledging Air Force which began as Royal Ceylon Air Force in 1951 has grown not only in strength and capability but also in number. Back then it has a staff of 1,200 and not more than 10 aircraft.
Today, after successive triumphs as the guardian of skies, it boasts of more than 35,000 personnel of which 1,400 alone are officers. Its fleet too has expanded with time and in its inventory today are more than 110 aircraft, with four attack squadrons and 3 transport squadrons.
Launch of the ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya 2011’
The press conference also saw the launch of the ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya 2011’, as the first phase of the approaching 60th anniversary.
Next year’s event will be the twelfth consecutive time the premier cycling event is held in the island. As per previous years, it will be held in partnership with the Sri Lanka Cyclists’ Association, in four stages.
The principal sponsor for the event is Abans (Pvt) Ltd, which has teamed up with SLAF for this event after a break. A cheque of sponsorship was handed over to the Commander of the Air Force at the launch.
The event will kick off on 19 January, 2011 from Vavuniya en route to Kaduruwela via Anuradhapura, with a distance of 159 Km. the distance of 120 Km from Minneriya to Kandy will be covered in the second day while the third stage of the ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya’ will be from Kandy to Colombo with a distance of 115 Km. the fourth and final stage of the event will be worked off from the SLAF Headquarters to the SLAF Unit Koggala, with the last stretch of the race being a distance of 132 Kilometers.
150 licensed riders will be contesting the event which is expected to be a keenly contested sporting event. It will also be the occasion to select participants for the upcoming Asian Cycling Championships in February 2011. The winners will be rewarded with cash prizes, with a mammoth Rs. 200,000 up for grabs as the grand prize.
Apart from the main event, a standard race will be held for amateur cyclists from the North and East provinces as a motive to encourage cycling enthusiasts in the region.
Director of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Cyclists’ Association Nishantha Piyasena and representing ABANS (Pvt) Ltd, Mr.Channa Pathirana General Manager (Retail) also addressed the gathering.
The press briefing was well attended by both print and electronic media, distinguished management personnel from ABANS (Pvt) Ltd as well as a number of distinguished SLAF personnel.
The maiden press conference in lieu of the Sri Lanka Air Force 60th anniversary celebrations was held on 30 December, 2010 at the SLAF Headquarters Auditorium chaired by Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetileke.
A highlight at the event was the unveiling of the official logo for the 60th anniversary by the Commander of the Air Force. The skillfully constructed logo symbolizes the journey of excellence in aviation of the organization. The official logo will be carried on specially designed float during the annual "Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya" and will be the symbol under which all commemoration activities will be conducted for the 60th Anniversary commencing this evening. After the cycling event the Logo will be carried from Colombo to Buttala on a specially designed float once again for the Deyata Kirula Exhibition where it will be on display. The construction of this symbolic logo was done by Squadron Leader Surendra Munasinghe, whilst the aircraft models on it were manufactured by the SLAF Model Aircraft workshop at SLAF Station Ekala.
The forthcoming year is poised to be eventful for SLAF when it celebrates 6 decades of glory and dedicated services on 2 March, 2011. Addressing the press the Commander emphasized the progress of the Air Force, making special mention of the Humanitarian Operations of 2006 as a defining moment in the history of the organization.
“Within the course of a short time of three and half years, the Air Force gave its fullest support to end terrorism in the country, by assisting the Army and Navy as well as providing relief for civilians. We worked as a team for this cause,” the Commander told the gathering. The fledging Air Force which began as Royal Ceylon Air Force in 1951 has grown not only in strength and capability but also in number. Back then it has a staff of 1,200 and not more than 10 aircraft.
Today, after successive triumphs as the guardian of skies, it boasts of more than 35,000 personnel of which 1,400 alone are officers. Its fleet too has expanded with time and in its inventory today are more than 110 aircraft, with four attack squadrons and 3 transport squadrons.
Launch of the ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya 2011’
The press conference also saw the launch of the ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya 2011’, as the first phase of the approaching 60th anniversary.
Next year’s event will be the twelfth consecutive time the premier cycling event is held in the island. As per previous years, it will be held in partnership with the Sri Lanka Cyclists’ Association, in four stages.
The principal sponsor for the event is Abans (Pvt) Ltd, which has teamed up with SLAF for this event after a break. A cheque of sponsorship was handed over to the Commander of the Air Force at the launch.
The event will kick off on 19 January, 2011 from Vavuniya en route to Kaduruwela via Anuradhapura, with a distance of 159 Km. the distance of 120 Km from Minneriya to Kandy will be covered in the second day while the third stage of the ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya’ will be from Kandy to Colombo with a distance of 115 Km. the fourth and final stage of the event will be worked off from the SLAF Headquarters to the SLAF Unit Koggala, with the last stretch of the race being a distance of 132 Kilometers.
150 licensed riders will be contesting the event which is expected to be a keenly contested sporting event. It will also be the occasion to select participants for the upcoming Asian Cycling Championships in February 2011. The winners will be rewarded with cash prizes, with a mammoth Rs. 200,000 up for grabs as the grand prize.
Apart from the main event, a standard race will be held for amateur cyclists from the North and East provinces as a motive to encourage cycling enthusiasts in the region.
Director of the Media Centre for National Security Lakshman Hulugalle, Vice President of the Sri Lanka Cyclists’ Association Nishantha Piyasena and representing ABANS (Pvt) Ltd, Mr.Channa Pathirana General Manager (Retail) also addressed the gathering.
The press briefing was well attended by both print and electronic media, distinguished management personnel from ABANS (Pvt) Ltd as well as a number of distinguished SLAF personnel.
