NEW DIRECTOR GENERAL AIR OPERATIONS OF THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE APPOINTED
2:38pm on Wednesday 1st February 2023
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne was appointed as the Director General Air Operations in the Sri Lanka Air Force, effective from today (01 February 2023). Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana officially handed over the letter of appointment to Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne at the Air Force Headquarters and conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed Director General Air Operations.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne is a distinguished past student of Wesley College Colombo. He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot Branch of the 21st intake in 1989. After successfully completing his Basic and Advanced Flying Training at the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy in China Bay, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1992.
During his illustrious career, he was chosen to specialize as a fighter pilot, flying many different fighter platforms. He is a qualified flying instructor and qualified flight safety officer and has received extensive training in Pakistan, Israel, China, India, and Ecuador.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne is a distinguished past student of Wesley College Colombo. He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot Branch of the 21st intake in 1989. After successfully completing his Basic and Advanced Flying Training at the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy in China Bay, he was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in 1992.
During his illustrious career, he was chosen to specialize as a fighter pilot, flying many different fighter platforms. He is a qualified flying instructor and qualified flight safety officer and has received extensive training in Pakistan, Israel, China, India, and Ecuador.
Before assuming duties as the Director General Air Operations, he served as a diplomat at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC in the post of Minister (Defence) where he was responsible for maintaining friendly bi-lateral relations of the militaries of Sri Lanka and the USA.
In 2007, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of No 05 Fighter Squadron at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake. His contributions in service to the country were amply recognized and appreciated by the award of gallantry medals in six occasions and also, he was awarded Uttama Sewa Padakkama for his unblemished service carrier to date.
From August 2012 to June 2014, he commanded both No 05 and No 10 Fighter Squadrons which are in possession of multirole fighter jets.
In his pursuance of academic qualifications, he completed his, ndc in India, M Phil (Def & Strat Stu) Madras University with ‘A First Class’, Fellowship of Air War College from the Air War Collage Pakistan, MSc (Strat Stu) from National Defence University Pakistan, Senior Aviation Commanders Course from Air Force Command College China, Diploma in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Qualified Flight Safety Officer Course in Pakistan, Qualified Flying instructor course in India, participated in IHL related Flight Planners Course in Italy.
In moving from operational to higher level management in the Sri Lanka Air Force, AVM Sampath Wickremeratne was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda which is the home for two highly operational helicopter squadrons in 2014.
In Jan 2017 he was posted to Air Force Headquarters as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the Directorate of Air Operations and handled Air Operations at Air Headquarters and Ministry of Defence (MOD) level.
In Sep 2018 he was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana which is the home of 12 independent formations including the VVIP Helicopter Squadron. During the tenures as the Base Commander, he was responsible for coordinating HADR operations in the North-East and South- East of the country respectively.
He was nominated for several high level engagements in the defence establishment during past years. Among those were; member of formulating the Defence Policy for cabinet approval in 2018/19, represented the Air Force in Japan – Sri Lanka initial talks for operational engagements in defence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Delegation to visit Bangladesh UN Mission establishments to make recommendations to the SLAF UN operations, represented SLAF at the US Indo Pacific talks, represented SLAF at 2019 International Flight Safety Seminar in Dhaka, Member of high level officers delegation to visit China on BRI, member of the board appointed by the office of Chief of Defence Staff to make recommendations on Australian Mutual Logistic Support Agreement.
In 2007, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of No 05 Fighter Squadron at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake. His contributions in service to the country were amply recognized and appreciated by the award of gallantry medals in six occasions and also, he was awarded Uttama Sewa Padakkama for his unblemished service carrier to date.
From August 2012 to June 2014, he commanded both No 05 and No 10 Fighter Squadrons which are in possession of multirole fighter jets.
In his pursuance of academic qualifications, he completed his, ndc in India, M Phil (Def & Strat Stu) Madras University with ‘A First Class’, Fellowship of Air War College from the Air War Collage Pakistan, MSc (Strat Stu) from National Defence University Pakistan, Senior Aviation Commanders Course from Air Force Command College China, Diploma in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Qualified Flight Safety Officer Course in Pakistan, Qualified Flying instructor course in India, participated in IHL related Flight Planners Course in Italy.
In moving from operational to higher level management in the Sri Lanka Air Force, AVM Sampath Wickremeratne was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda which is the home for two highly operational helicopter squadrons in 2014.
In Jan 2017 he was posted to Air Force Headquarters as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the Directorate of Air Operations and handled Air Operations at Air Headquarters and Ministry of Defence (MOD) level.
In Sep 2018 he was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana which is the home of 12 independent formations including the VVIP Helicopter Squadron. During the tenures as the Base Commander, he was responsible for coordinating HADR operations in the North-East and South- East of the country respectively.
He was nominated for several high level engagements in the defence establishment during past years. Among those were; member of formulating the Defence Policy for cabinet approval in 2018/19, represented the Air Force in Japan – Sri Lanka initial talks for operational engagements in defence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Delegation to visit Bangladesh UN Mission establishments to make recommendations to the SLAF UN operations, represented SLAF at the US Indo Pacific talks, represented SLAF at 2019 International Flight Safety Seminar in Dhaka, Member of high level officers delegation to visit China on BRI, member of the board appointed by the office of Chief of Defence Staff to make recommendations on Australian Mutual Logistic Support Agreement.
