AIR VICE MARSHAL NISHANTHA THILAKASINGHE BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
4:46pm on Monday 20th November 2023
Air Vice Marshal Nishantha Thilakasinghe, USP, MDS, BA (Def Stu), MISMM, MIM(SL), psc, bid adieu to the Sri Lanka Air Force today (20 November 2023) after 35 years of dedicated service to the nation. At the time of his retirement, he held the appointment of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Thilakasinghe made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, at his office on the 09 November 2023. 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 Air Vice Marshal Thilakasinghe exchanged mementoes to mark the occasion. He was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing on 17 November 2023 before he departed from Air Force Headquarters for the last time.
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force through the 6th Intake of Kotelawala Defence Academy in 1988 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Logistics Branch on 05 October 1990. He has completed various training courses during his illustrious career. He attended the Defence Command Staff Course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda and obtained his Masters in Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya. He is a qualified Air Load Master and has got nearly 2000 flying hours in C-130, Y-8, AN-32B and MI-17 aircraft.
Air Vice Marshal Thilakasinghe steadily achieved many professional milestones and held numerous prestigious key appointments in the Logistics Branch. These include Commanding Officer No 01 Supply & Maintenance Depot Katunayake, Commanding Officer No 02 Supply & Maintenance Depot Minneriya, Chief Procurement Officer, Staff Officer Logistics I, Command Welfare Project Officer, Deputy Director Logistics and Director General Logistics before being appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the SLAF.
He was an energetic sportsman who played Hockey, Soccer and Athletics. He represented the St. Mary’s Sports Club for Soccer, more than ten years even after joining the Defence Academy and he had continued the same sport including Rugger, Cricket and Basketball. He held the appointment of Chairman Sri Lanka Air Force Volleyball.
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force through the 6th Intake of Kotelawala Defence Academy in 1988 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Logistics Branch on 05 October 1990. He has completed various training courses during his illustrious career. He attended the Defence Command Staff Course at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda and obtained his Masters in Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya. He is a qualified Air Load Master and has got nearly 2000 flying hours in C-130, Y-8, AN-32B and MI-17 aircraft.
Air Vice Marshal Thilakasinghe steadily achieved many professional milestones and held numerous prestigious key appointments in the Logistics Branch. These include Commanding Officer No 01 Supply & Maintenance Depot Katunayake, Commanding Officer No 02 Supply & Maintenance Depot Minneriya, Chief Procurement Officer, Staff Officer Logistics I, Command Welfare Project Officer, Deputy Director Logistics and Director General Logistics before being appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the SLAF.
He was an energetic sportsman who played Hockey, Soccer and Athletics. He represented the St. Mary’s Sports Club for Soccer, more than ten years even after joining the Defence Academy and he had continued the same sport including Rugger, Cricket and Basketball. He held the appointment of Chairman Sri Lanka Air Force Volleyball.
He has been awarded the “Uttama Seva Padakkama,” for his distinguished and exemplary service.
