SRI LANKA AIR FORCE PROUDLY JOINS IN THE 75TH INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS
11:01am on Saturday 4th February 2023
Today marks the 75th anniversary of our nation gaining independence from colonial rule. This year’s National Independence day celebrations were held under the theme of "Namo Namo Matha – Let’s Leap towards the Century" at the Galle Face Green today (04 February 2023).
Under the able leadership of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, the Guardians of the Skies proudly participated in the Independence Fly Past and troops of the ceremonial march past this year. A total of 14 SLAF aircraft, 663 parade troops and 27 vehicles for the mechanical column on the ground participated in the fly past and ceremonial march past.
The Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapakse, received the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, during his arrival at the occasion.
The arrival of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe and the First Lady, Mrs. Maithree Wickremesinghe marked the commencement of the celebrations. The Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament, Ministers, Chief Justice, the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, the Governor of the North-Western Province, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, State Ministers, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, the Inspector General of the Police, Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne, State Secretaries, Diplomats and other distinguished dignitaries graced the occasion.
The National Flag was hoisted by the President amidst the beating of "Magul Bera" and blowing of conch shells, followed by the singing of the National Anthem by school children. Later, the three service Commanders and the Inspector General of the Police conducted the President to the special dais, opposite which school girls recited Jayamangala Gatha to invoke blessings of the noble Triple Gem on the Nation and also the "Devo Vassatu Kalena" to bless the Nation.
Subsequently, a Guard of Honour followed by a 21- Gun Salute was accorded to the President by the Armed Forces.
Director General Air Operations of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremaratne was the overall operations commander of the Independence Day Fly Past which included three Bell 212 Helicopter, three Bell 412 Helicopters, three PT-06 Trainer Aircraft, two Y-12 Light Transport Aircraft, one AN-32 Heavy Transport Aircraft and two F-7 Fighter Jet Aircraft.
The Fly Past was coordinated by Group Captain Poojana Gunathilake, Group Captain GGSR Gunawardana as the Air Traffic Control Coordinator, the Formation Navigator, Wing Commander TP Silva and Wing Commander PS Liyanarachchi as the Rescue Coordinator. The Fly Past Navigators were Group Captain DL Hewavitharana, Group Captain KWNS Welagedara, Wing Commander VRS Vidanapathirana, Wing Commander IS Mallawaarachchi, Wing Commander PDPP Dayananda and Wing Commander SMMMM Senanayake.
The overall operations commander on the ground during the ceremonial march past was Director General Ground Operations, Air Vice Marshal Waruna Gunawardena, and the overall parade coordinator was Wing Commander Wasantha Lakshman, Staff Officer Ground III of the Directorate of Ground Operations.
As the Overall Parade Commander, Commandant of the SLAF Academy China Bay, Air Commodore Deshapriya Silva, represented the Sri Lanka Air Force. The SLAF Ceremonial March, which was comprised of five Squadrons, was commanded by Wing Commander Prasad Kulathunga while Squadron Leader Gayan Joseph commanded the Air Force Ceremonial Band. The first squadron was commanded by Wing Commander Asela Vithana, the second by Squadron Leader Dilshan Kithsiri and the third squadron, which was made up of airwomen, was commanded by Squadron Leader Shayanari Gamage.
Next, the Special Airborne Force Squadron led by Squadron Leader Haritha Pinnadoowa presented their salute to the President, followed by the Regiment Special Force Squadron, which marched under the leadership of Wing Commander Sumith Bandara, the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Regiment Special Forces Wing at Morawewa.
This year’s mechanical column representing the support elements of the SLAF has included an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Air Defence System, Armament and Special Airborne Force Rider Squad.
The mechanical column was led by the Commanding Officer of the No. 111 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron at SLAF Base Vavuniya, Group Captain Manjula Abeywickrema. The UAV element, which displayed a Lihiniya MK-2 system, was led by Squadron Leader Lakshan Wanigaarachchi. The Air Defence Radar element, made up of an Indra MK-2 Radar System, was led by Wing Commander Nalin Wewakumbura. Two display vehicles displayed the surface-to-air missile capabilities of the SLAF and a series of ammunition replicas showcased that were used by SLAF Fighter Aircraft were led by Squadron Leader Kasun Danawalavithana.
The highlight of the SLAF mechanical column was the Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) Wing element, led by Wing Commander Nilendra Perera, the Commanding Officer of the SLAF CBRNE Wing. The SLAF CBRNE Wing were the first to conduct disinfection operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the disinfection of 33 students who were repatriated from Wuhan China on the 1st of Feb 2020.
The SLAF Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit was led by Squadron Leader Damith Ramanayake followed by the Air Dog Unit.
The Sri Lanka Air Force Special Airborne Force Rider Squad, led by Squadron Leader Nipuna Herath, marked the end of the SLAF mechanical column and the parade. Eventually, a combination of armed forces and police coloured the Gall Face Green skies by adding much more glamour with Para troopers who were led by Group Captain Jagath Godakanda that gestured the end of the 75th National Independence Day celebrations.
The Chief of Staff of the SLAF, members of the Air Force Board of Management and Air Rank Officers participated in the National Independence Day celebrations.
Following the conclusion of the celebrations at Gall Face Green, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana proceeded to SLAF Base Ratmalana, where he participated in the customary group photograph with all of the pilots who flew for the Independence Day Fly Past, as well as all other officers who supported this operation.
Under the able leadership of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, the Guardians of the Skies proudly participated in the Independence Fly Past and troops of the ceremonial march past this year. A total of 14 SLAF aircraft, 663 parade troops and 27 vehicles for the mechanical column on the ground participated in the fly past and ceremonial march past.
The Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapakse, received the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, during his arrival at the occasion.
The arrival of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe and the First Lady, Mrs. Maithree Wickremesinghe marked the commencement of the celebrations. The Prime Minister, Speaker of Parliament, Ministers, Chief Justice, the Governor of the Western Province, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke, the Governor of the North-Western Province, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, State Ministers, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Gunaratne (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff, General Shavendra Silva, Commander of the Army, Lieutenant General Vikum Liyanage, Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera, the Inspector General of the Police, Mr. C.D. Wickramaratne, State Secretaries, Diplomats and other distinguished dignitaries graced the occasion.
The National Flag was hoisted by the President amidst the beating of "Magul Bera" and blowing of conch shells, followed by the singing of the National Anthem by school children. Later, the three service Commanders and the Inspector General of the Police conducted the President to the special dais, opposite which school girls recited Jayamangala Gatha to invoke blessings of the noble Triple Gem on the Nation and also the "Devo Vassatu Kalena" to bless the Nation.
Subsequently, a Guard of Honour followed by a 21- Gun Salute was accorded to the President by the Armed Forces.
Director General Air Operations of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremaratne was the overall operations commander of the Independence Day Fly Past which included three Bell 212 Helicopter, three Bell 412 Helicopters, three PT-06 Trainer Aircraft, two Y-12 Light Transport Aircraft, one AN-32 Heavy Transport Aircraft and two F-7 Fighter Jet Aircraft.
The Fly Past was coordinated by Group Captain Poojana Gunathilake, Group Captain GGSR Gunawardana as the Air Traffic Control Coordinator, the Formation Navigator, Wing Commander TP Silva and Wing Commander PS Liyanarachchi as the Rescue Coordinator. The Fly Past Navigators were Group Captain DL Hewavitharana, Group Captain KWNS Welagedara, Wing Commander VRS Vidanapathirana, Wing Commander IS Mallawaarachchi, Wing Commander PDPP Dayananda and Wing Commander SMMMM Senanayake.
The overall operations commander on the ground during the ceremonial march past was Director General Ground Operations, Air Vice Marshal Waruna Gunawardena, and the overall parade coordinator was Wing Commander Wasantha Lakshman, Staff Officer Ground III of the Directorate of Ground Operations.
As the Overall Parade Commander, Commandant of the SLAF Academy China Bay, Air Commodore Deshapriya Silva, represented the Sri Lanka Air Force. The SLAF Ceremonial March, which was comprised of five Squadrons, was commanded by Wing Commander Prasad Kulathunga while Squadron Leader Gayan Joseph commanded the Air Force Ceremonial Band. The first squadron was commanded by Wing Commander Asela Vithana, the second by Squadron Leader Dilshan Kithsiri and the third squadron, which was made up of airwomen, was commanded by Squadron Leader Shayanari Gamage.
Next, the Special Airborne Force Squadron led by Squadron Leader Haritha Pinnadoowa presented their salute to the President, followed by the Regiment Special Force Squadron, which marched under the leadership of Wing Commander Sumith Bandara, the Commanding Officer of the SLAF Regiment Special Forces Wing at Morawewa.
This year’s mechanical column representing the support elements of the SLAF has included an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Air Defence System, Armament and Special Airborne Force Rider Squad.
The mechanical column was led by the Commanding Officer of the No. 111 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron at SLAF Base Vavuniya, Group Captain Manjula Abeywickrema. The UAV element, which displayed a Lihiniya MK-2 system, was led by Squadron Leader Lakshan Wanigaarachchi. The Air Defence Radar element, made up of an Indra MK-2 Radar System, was led by Wing Commander Nalin Wewakumbura. Two display vehicles displayed the surface-to-air missile capabilities of the SLAF and a series of ammunition replicas showcased that were used by SLAF Fighter Aircraft were led by Squadron Leader Kasun Danawalavithana.
The highlight of the SLAF mechanical column was the Chemical, Biological Radiological and Nuclear Explosive (CBRNE) Wing element, led by Wing Commander Nilendra Perera, the Commanding Officer of the SLAF CBRNE Wing. The SLAF CBRNE Wing were the first to conduct disinfection operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the disinfection of 33 students who were repatriated from Wuhan China on the 1st of Feb 2020.
The SLAF Explosive Ordinance Disposal unit was led by Squadron Leader Damith Ramanayake followed by the Air Dog Unit.
The Sri Lanka Air Force Special Airborne Force Rider Squad, led by Squadron Leader Nipuna Herath, marked the end of the SLAF mechanical column and the parade. Eventually, a combination of armed forces and police coloured the Gall Face Green skies by adding much more glamour with Para troopers who were led by Group Captain Jagath Godakanda that gestured the end of the 75th National Independence Day celebrations.
The Chief of Staff of the SLAF, members of the Air Force Board of Management and Air Rank Officers participated in the National Independence Day celebrations.
Following the conclusion of the celebrations at Gall Face Green, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana proceeded to SLAF Base Ratmalana, where he participated in the customary group photograph with all of the pilots who flew for the Independence Day Fly Past, as well as all other officers who supported this operation.
