COMMISSIONING AND WINGS PARADE AT SRI LANKA AIR FORCE ACADEMY CHINA BAY
2:39pm on Friday 3rd March 2023
It was a moment of utmost pride and glory for the Sri Lanka Air Force when it held the Commissioning and Wings Parade this morning (03 March 2023) of the No. 65 Officer Cadets’ Intake and No. 17 Lady Officer Cadets’ Intake, the No. 35 and No.37 Kotelawala Defence University Intakes comprising of a total of 40 Male Officers and Lady Officers.
On the invitation of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, took the salute as the Chief Guest at this historical occasion, which was held at the SLAF Academy in China Bay. As the gesture of the commencement of the proceedings an aerial salute was honoured by two F-7 aircraft to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, after the arrival to the Saluting Dais.
The day’s proceedings began on a grand note with the Commissioning Parade led by the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay, Air Commodore Deshapriya Silva marching on to the Parade Ground. The parade, which consisted of three Squadrons, nine Flights and the President’s Colour conferred a Ceremonial General Salute to the Chief Guest. Following the salute was the highlight of the day’s agenda, the commissioning of the 40 Officer Cadets and Lady Officer Cadets as Pilot Officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
This was the culmination of nearly three years of intensive training and dedications by the Officers who were from different branches, namely General Duties Pilot, Aeronautical and General Engineering, Operations Air, Regiment, Logistics and Administrative. Having begun initial training at the Combat Training School in Diyatalawa and at the Kotelawala Defence University, these Officers subsequently completed their Service Administration, Academic Studies Module and Specialized Branch modules at the Flying and Ground Training Wings in China Bay and the Combat Training School in Diyatalawa.
During the awarding of flying brevets and trophies for special achievements, 13 young officers received the prestigious Flying Brevet as military aviators in Sri Lanka.
Pilot Officer WAVM Weerasinghe from No. 65 Officer Cadet Intake was awarded the prestigious "Sword of Honour" presented by Group Captain NR Raheem. The sword of honour is awarded to the Officer Cadet who has achieved the highest results in both academic and professional studies and who has shown the best all-round performance throughout the course among all branches.
On the invitation of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, took the salute as the Chief Guest at this historical occasion, which was held at the SLAF Academy in China Bay. As the gesture of the commencement of the proceedings an aerial salute was honoured by two F-7 aircraft to the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, after the arrival to the Saluting Dais.
The day’s proceedings began on a grand note with the Commissioning Parade led by the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay, Air Commodore Deshapriya Silva marching on to the Parade Ground. The parade, which consisted of three Squadrons, nine Flights and the President’s Colour conferred a Ceremonial General Salute to the Chief Guest. Following the salute was the highlight of the day’s agenda, the commissioning of the 40 Officer Cadets and Lady Officer Cadets as Pilot Officers of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
This was the culmination of nearly three years of intensive training and dedications by the Officers who were from different branches, namely General Duties Pilot, Aeronautical and General Engineering, Operations Air, Regiment, Logistics and Administrative. Having begun initial training at the Combat Training School in Diyatalawa and at the Kotelawala Defence University, these Officers subsequently completed their Service Administration, Academic Studies Module and Specialized Branch modules at the Flying and Ground Training Wings in China Bay and the Combat Training School in Diyatalawa.
During the awarding of flying brevets and trophies for special achievements, 13 young officers received the prestigious Flying Brevet as military aviators in Sri Lanka.
Pilot Officer WAVM Weerasinghe from No. 65 Officer Cadet Intake was awarded the prestigious "Sword of Honour" presented by Group Captain NR Raheem. The sword of honour is awarded to the Officer Cadet who has achieved the highest results in both academic and professional studies and who has shown the best all-round performance throughout the course among all branches.
Significantly, for the first time in the Air Force history, another novel and prestigious award, the "Sword of Eagle" is bestowed on the best officer cadet of the General Duties Pilot branch, sponsored by Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana where Pilot Officer MVN Perera from No. 65 Officer Cadet Intake was awarded the prestigious "Sword of Eagle."
During the address made by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, he urged the newly commissioned Officers by stating that "Upon taking office, you made a solemn vow to uphold the constitution, and as members of the Air Force, you also took an oath. It is now your duty to ensure the protection of the constitution and, in doing so, protect the country as well."
Eventually, newly Commissioned young Officers marched out from the parade square in upholding the ultimate responsibility to face any challenge and serve the motherland with utmost loyalty, dedication and self-sacrifice. Three PT-6 aircraft flew over the sky adding much glamour and wishing the young men and women who stepped out from SLAF Academy China Bay a great success and a bright future.
The Wings and Commissioning Parade was followed by a thrilling Parachutes Display and the Air Force Ceremonial Band display, together with a Drill Display by the SLAF Colour Wing, adding much glamour to the day’s proceedings.
This prestigious ceremony was also attended by the Senior Advisor to the President on National Security, Mr. Sagala Rathnayake, the State Minister of Defence, Hon. Pramitha Bandara Thennakoon, the Governor of Eastern Province, Hon. Anuradha Yahampath, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Guneratne (Retd), Members of the Air Force Board of Management together with their spouses, a limited number of Senior Military Officers, Other Ranks and the parents of the newly Commissioned Officers who participated in today’s Parade at Air Force Academy China Bay.
Special Award Winners
Pilot Officer WAVM Weerasinghe - Flt Lt SVS Fernando Memorial Trophy for best officer cadet in Administrative Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer UIO De Silva - Wg Cdr HP Karunarathne Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Logistics Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer MSS Kuruppu - Wg Cdr JE Peiris Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Regiment Branch (No. 17 Lady Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer MWSH Weerasiri - Gp Capt SNH Gunathilake Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Operations Air Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer KR Basnayake - Trophy for the best officer cadet in Information Technology Engineering Branch (No. 17 Lady Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer WKV Jayanaka - Sqn Ldr DSP Mendis memorial trophy for the best officer cadet in Electronics Engineering Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer SVM Jayawardhana - Gp Capt DS Wickramasinghe Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Aeronautical & General Engineering Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
During the address made by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, he urged the newly commissioned Officers by stating that "Upon taking office, you made a solemn vow to uphold the constitution, and as members of the Air Force, you also took an oath. It is now your duty to ensure the protection of the constitution and, in doing so, protect the country as well."
Eventually, newly Commissioned young Officers marched out from the parade square in upholding the ultimate responsibility to face any challenge and serve the motherland with utmost loyalty, dedication and self-sacrifice. Three PT-6 aircraft flew over the sky adding much glamour and wishing the young men and women who stepped out from SLAF Academy China Bay a great success and a bright future.
The Wings and Commissioning Parade was followed by a thrilling Parachutes Display and the Air Force Ceremonial Band display, together with a Drill Display by the SLAF Colour Wing, adding much glamour to the day’s proceedings.
This prestigious ceremony was also attended by the Senior Advisor to the President on National Security, Mr. Sagala Rathnayake, the State Minister of Defence, Hon. Pramitha Bandara Thennakoon, the Governor of Eastern Province, Hon. Anuradha Yahampath, the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Guneratne (Retd), Members of the Air Force Board of Management together with their spouses, a limited number of Senior Military Officers, Other Ranks and the parents of the newly Commissioned Officers who participated in today’s Parade at Air Force Academy China Bay.
Special Award Winners
Pilot Officer WAVM Weerasinghe - Flt Lt SVS Fernando Memorial Trophy for best officer cadet in Administrative Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer UIO De Silva - Wg Cdr HP Karunarathne Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Logistics Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer MSS Kuruppu - Wg Cdr JE Peiris Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Regiment Branch (No. 17 Lady Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer MWSH Weerasiri - Gp Capt SNH Gunathilake Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Operations Air Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer KR Basnayake - Trophy for the best officer cadet in Information Technology Engineering Branch (No. 17 Lady Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer WKV Jayanaka - Sqn Ldr DSP Mendis memorial trophy for the best officer cadet in Electronics Engineering Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
Pilot Officer SVM Jayawardhana - Gp Capt DS Wickramasinghe Memorial Trophy for the best officer cadet in Aeronautical & General Engineering Branch (No. 65 Officer Cadets Intake)
