AIR VICE MARSHAL HEMANTHA SOYSA BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
4:12pm on Thursday 10th November 2022
Air Vice Marshal Hemantha Soysa USP, MSc (Def & Strat Stu), BA (Def Stu), psc bid adieu to the Sri Lanka Air Force today (10 November 2022) after 34 years of dedicated service to the nation. At the time of his retirement, he held the appointment of Director Welfare of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Soysa made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at his office yesterday (09 November 2022). 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 illustrious career will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and the Air Vice Marshal Soysa exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. After which, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing today (10 November 2022) before he departed Air Force Headquarters for the last time.
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 06th of October 1988 with the 6th Intake of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Administrative Branch in the year 1990. He has followed various training courses during his illustrious career. Notably, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Defence Studies) with Honours from the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He has secured the Golden Pen award for completing the No 19 Junior Command and Staff Course as the 1st in the order of merit and also attended No.72 Junior Command and Staff Course at Command and Staff Training Institute, Bangladesh Air Force in 2006. He has secured his Master of Science Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies with Honours from the University of Madras whilst completing the Defence Services Staff Course at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India in 2007/2008.
Air Vice Marshal Soysa has steadily achieved many professional milestones and has held many prestigious key appointments in the Administrative Branch as Assistant Staff Officer Accounts 1 at the Pay & Records Section, Officer Commanding Personnel Services at SLAF Base Vavuniya, Senior Instructor at the Junior Command and Staff College, Staff Officer Command P2, Command Audit Officer, Air Secretary to the Commander of the Air Force, Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff, Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Air Force, Deputy Director Administration (Accounts), Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force Women’s Wing and Deputy Director Administration (Personnel) before being appointed as the Director Welfare.
He had been a Trustee of the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen Institute since 2011 and he was also the SLAF Coordinating Officer for the Association of the Retired Flag Rank Officers of Sri Lanka. He held two appointments in the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Council and officiates as Chairman of SLAF Table Tennis and Chairman of SLAF Motor Racing Committee.
Air Vice Marshal Soysa made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at his office yesterday (09 November 2022). 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 illustrious career will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and the Air Vice Marshal Soysa exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. After which, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing today (10 November 2022) before he departed Air Force Headquarters for the last time.
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 06th of October 1988 with the 6th Intake of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University as an Officer Cadet and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Administrative Branch in the year 1990. He has followed various training courses during his illustrious career. Notably, he holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Defence Studies) with Honours from the Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He has secured the Golden Pen award for completing the No 19 Junior Command and Staff Course as the 1st in the order of merit and also attended No.72 Junior Command and Staff Course at Command and Staff Training Institute, Bangladesh Air Force in 2006. He has secured his Master of Science Degree in Defence and Strategic Studies with Honours from the University of Madras whilst completing the Defence Services Staff Course at the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, India in 2007/2008.
Air Vice Marshal Soysa has steadily achieved many professional milestones and has held many prestigious key appointments in the Administrative Branch as Assistant Staff Officer Accounts 1 at the Pay & Records Section, Officer Commanding Personnel Services at SLAF Base Vavuniya, Senior Instructor at the Junior Command and Staff College, Staff Officer Command P2, Command Audit Officer, Air Secretary to the Commander of the Air Force, Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff, Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Air Force, Deputy Director Administration (Accounts), Commanding Officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force Women’s Wing and Deputy Director Administration (Personnel) before being appointed as the Director Welfare.
He had been a Trustee of the Sri Lanka Ex-Servicemen Institute since 2011 and he was also the SLAF Coordinating Officer for the Association of the Retired Flag Rank Officers of Sri Lanka. He held two appointments in the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Council and officiates as Chairman of SLAF Table Tennis and Chairman of SLAF Motor Racing Committee.
For his distinguished and exemplary service, he has been awarded with Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal with Clasp and the “Uttama Seva Padakkama”.
