AIR VICE MARSHAL RUCHIRA SAMARASINGHE BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
6:47pm on Monday 25th September 2023
Air Vice Marshal Ruchira Samarasinghe USP, BSc (Def Stu), AMIE (SL), bid adieu to the Sri Lanka Air Force today (25 September 2023), after completing more than 32 years of dedicated service to the nation. At the time of his retirement, he held the appointment of Senior Project Coordinator at the Defence Headquarters Complex Akuregoda.
Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, at his office today. The Commander commended him for his dedicated 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 times of need for our motherland, and that his heroic history will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. Afterward, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before departing from Air Force Headquarters for the last time. In recognition of the outstanding service rendered to the nation, a Farewell Dinner was graciously hosted in honour of Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe with the presence of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, along with Chairperson SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Enoka Rajapaksa and the members of the Air Force Board of Management. This momentous occasion took place at the Air Force Headquarters Officers' Mess in Colombo.
Air Vice Marshal Ruchira Samarasinghe joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 3 November 1990, through the 08th Intake of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University as an Officer Cadet in the Civil Engineering Branch and was commissioned in the year 1992. During his training period, he successfully completed the Basic Combat Training and the Degree Programme in Civil Engineering at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
After completing his training, he held the appointment of Works Engineer at SLAF Base Vavuniya, SLAF Trade Training School Ekala, SLAF Station Colombo, and SLAF Mankulam. In October 2004, he was posted to Air Force Headquarters as the Project Engineer at the Directorate of Construction Engineering. Subsequently, he held the appointments of Staff Officer Civil Engineering (Design) and Senior Staff Officer Civil Engineering at the Directorate of Civil Engineering in Air Force Headquarters. Later, Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe held the key appointment of Director of Civil Engineering at Air Force Headquarters Colombo from 2016 for six years.
In his academic pursuits, he completed various courses, including the Junior Command and Staff Course at the Junior Command and Staff College SLAF Academy China Bay, the International Airport Engineering Course in Australia, the Cost and Time Management of Projects Using Computer Tools Course at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, and the Senior Command and Staff Course in Pakistan.
For his valuable service and devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and exemplary conduct, he has been awarded the "Uththama Seva Padakkama" (USP). Apart from his military career, he chaired SLAF Taekwondo and SLAF Squash in the Air Force Sports Council.
Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe played an instrumental role as a decision-maker and advisor in aligning decisions made by Air Force Headquarters. He had a profound capability to understand hierarchical needs and provide diplomatic, logical, and justifiable recommendations for onward action. Therefore, he consistently forwarded accurate conclusions for planning future needs with practical, affordable, and effective solutions. Furthermore, as a Member of the SLAF Board of Management in the capacity of Director of Civil Engineering, he engaged in a wide range of decision-making processes that demonstrated his proficiency in higher command and staff work.
Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, at his office today. The Commander commended him for his dedicated 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 times of need for our motherland, and that his heroic history will remain etched in the annals of the SLAF. The Commander and Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. Afterward, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before departing from Air Force Headquarters for the last time. In recognition of the outstanding service rendered to the nation, a Farewell Dinner was graciously hosted in honour of Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe with the presence of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, along with Chairperson SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Enoka Rajapaksa and the members of the Air Force Board of Management. This momentous occasion took place at the Air Force Headquarters Officers' Mess in Colombo.
Air Vice Marshal Ruchira Samarasinghe joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 3 November 1990, through the 08th Intake of General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University as an Officer Cadet in the Civil Engineering Branch and was commissioned in the year 1992. During his training period, he successfully completed the Basic Combat Training and the Degree Programme in Civil Engineering at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.
After completing his training, he held the appointment of Works Engineer at SLAF Base Vavuniya, SLAF Trade Training School Ekala, SLAF Station Colombo, and SLAF Mankulam. In October 2004, he was posted to Air Force Headquarters as the Project Engineer at the Directorate of Construction Engineering. Subsequently, he held the appointments of Staff Officer Civil Engineering (Design) and Senior Staff Officer Civil Engineering at the Directorate of Civil Engineering in Air Force Headquarters. Later, Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe held the key appointment of Director of Civil Engineering at Air Force Headquarters Colombo from 2016 for six years.
In his academic pursuits, he completed various courses, including the Junior Command and Staff Course at the Junior Command and Staff College SLAF Academy China Bay, the International Airport Engineering Course in Australia, the Cost and Time Management of Projects Using Computer Tools Course at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, and the Senior Command and Staff Course in Pakistan.
For his valuable service and devotion to duty, outstanding ability, merit and exemplary conduct, he has been awarded the "Uththama Seva Padakkama" (USP). Apart from his military career, he chaired SLAF Taekwondo and SLAF Squash in the Air Force Sports Council.
Air Vice Marshal Samarasinghe played an instrumental role as a decision-maker and advisor in aligning decisions made by Air Force Headquarters. He had a profound capability to understand hierarchical needs and provide diplomatic, logical, and justifiable recommendations for onward action. Therefore, he consistently forwarded accurate conclusions for planning future needs with practical, affordable, and effective solutions. Furthermore, as a Member of the SLAF Board of Management in the capacity of Director of Civil Engineering, he engaged in a wide range of decision-making processes that demonstrated his proficiency in higher command and staff work.
