INAUGURATION OF STATE-OF-THE-ART SRI LANKA AIR FORCE HEADQUARTERS IN SRI JAYEWARDENEPURA
5:40pm on Monday 1st January 2024
The new Sri Lanka Air Force Headquarters, Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte was declared open under the auspices of the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe today, (01 January 2024), during a well-attended grandeur ceremony.
The distinguished Chief Guest, Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, was warmly welcomed by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa and accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. Simultaneously, a dignified aerial tribute was offered by one Bell 212, two Bell 412s, three MI-17s, three Y-12s, one AN-32B and one F-7 aircraft of the Air Force in honour of the President. The event was attended by Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonathilake, State Minister of Defence, Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, National Security Advisor ,Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Guneratne (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff, Former Commanders of the SLAF, Commanders of the Army and Navy, Chief of Staff of the SLAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Members of the Air Force Board of Management, Senior Officers from Tri services, other State Officials and all the other ranks.
Following the parade, the President was invited to unveil the plaque, encapsulating the brief history leading to the ceremonial opening of the new Air Force HQ. Subsequently, the main entrance door to the Air Force HQ was opened after a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by the Chief Guest and other distinguished guests.
The next segment of the day’s proceedings commenced with welcome greetings for the New Year 2024 and opening remarks by the Commander of the Air Force, who traced the project’s brief history and expressed gratitude to the President and everyone involved for their dedicated and tireless efforts in constructing the new HQ.
In the President’s address to the occasion, he highlighted that the inauguration of the new Air Force Headquarters, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is a significant milestone, enabling the provision of crucial technical expertise for future challenges. The Air Force plays a vital role in positioning Sri Lanka as a defence hub in the Indian Ocean, emphasizing the need for advancements in knowledge and technology to fulfil this role effectively. The establishment of the Air Force Headquarters within the Army Headquarters is a pivotal step towards modernizing defence infrastructure, including the transformation of the previous Air Force Headquarters to the Police Headquarters in future. Strategic plans involve optimizing existing facilities and converting vacated areas into a vibrant tourist zone, aligning with broader urban development objectives and promoting economic diversification.
Adding symbolic significance to the day’s landmark event, the President inaugurated the office of the Commander of the Air Force at the new Air Force HQ. A brief discussion ensued in the Commander’s new office, graced by the President, along with the State Minister of Defence, National Security Advisor, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff.
The ten-story New Air Force Headquarters stands as the epitome of modern-day state-of-the-art construction, integrated into the combined Defence Headquarters complex with the Army and Navy, spanning 77 acres. The Air Force HQ boundaries are equipped with high-standard security systems, office rooms, high-standard cafeterias, catering appliances, generators, water storage tanks, libraries and other infrastructure facilities. In the newly established complex, Block 4 has been designated for the Air Force Headquarters, Blocks 6 and 7 for the Army Headquarters and Block 3 for the Navy Headquarters. The architectural design was undertaken by Muditha Jayakody Associates Private Ltd, while the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau played a pivotal role in managing the engineering aspects of the overall construction.
It is noteworthy that the construction project ensued from the valuable contributions of skilled personnel from the SLAF. Specifically, 14 Air Force Engineering Officers and 1400 Airmen provided labour and technical expertise under the proficient guidance of the Director of the Project Management Unit, Air Vice Marshal Rohan Pathirage, for the construction of Block 04.
The distinguished Chief Guest, Hon. Ranil Wickremasinghe, was warmly welcomed by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa and accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour. Simultaneously, a dignified aerial tribute was offered by one Bell 212, two Bell 412s, three MI-17s, three Y-12s, one AN-32B and one F-7 aircraft of the Air Force in honour of the President. The event was attended by Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonathilake, State Minister of Defence, Hon. Premitha Bandara Tennakoon, National Security Advisor ,Hon. Sagala Ratnayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, General Kamal Guneratne (Retd), Chief of Defence Staff, Former Commanders of the SLAF, Commanders of the Army and Navy, Chief of Staff of the SLAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Members of the Air Force Board of Management, Senior Officers from Tri services, other State Officials and all the other ranks.
Following the parade, the President was invited to unveil the plaque, encapsulating the brief history leading to the ceremonial opening of the new Air Force HQ. Subsequently, the main entrance door to the Air Force HQ was opened after a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by the Chief Guest and other distinguished guests.
The next segment of the day’s proceedings commenced with welcome greetings for the New Year 2024 and opening remarks by the Commander of the Air Force, who traced the project’s brief history and expressed gratitude to the President and everyone involved for their dedicated and tireless efforts in constructing the new HQ.
In the President’s address to the occasion, he highlighted that the inauguration of the new Air Force Headquarters, equipped with cutting-edge technology, is a significant milestone, enabling the provision of crucial technical expertise for future challenges. The Air Force plays a vital role in positioning Sri Lanka as a defence hub in the Indian Ocean, emphasizing the need for advancements in knowledge and technology to fulfil this role effectively. The establishment of the Air Force Headquarters within the Army Headquarters is a pivotal step towards modernizing defence infrastructure, including the transformation of the previous Air Force Headquarters to the Police Headquarters in future. Strategic plans involve optimizing existing facilities and converting vacated areas into a vibrant tourist zone, aligning with broader urban development objectives and promoting economic diversification.
Adding symbolic significance to the day’s landmark event, the President inaugurated the office of the Commander of the Air Force at the new Air Force HQ. A brief discussion ensued in the Commander’s new office, graced by the President, along with the State Minister of Defence, National Security Advisor, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Chief of Defence Staff.
The ten-story New Air Force Headquarters stands as the epitome of modern-day state-of-the-art construction, integrated into the combined Defence Headquarters complex with the Army and Navy, spanning 77 acres. The Air Force HQ boundaries are equipped with high-standard security systems, office rooms, high-standard cafeterias, catering appliances, generators, water storage tanks, libraries and other infrastructure facilities. In the newly established complex, Block 4 has been designated for the Air Force Headquarters, Blocks 6 and 7 for the Army Headquarters and Block 3 for the Navy Headquarters. The architectural design was undertaken by Muditha Jayakody Associates Private Ltd, while the Central Engineering Consultancy Bureau played a pivotal role in managing the engineering aspects of the overall construction.
It is noteworthy that the construction project ensued from the valuable contributions of skilled personnel from the SLAF. Specifically, 14 Air Force Engineering Officers and 1400 Airmen provided labour and technical expertise under the proficient guidance of the Director of the Project Management Unit, Air Vice Marshal Rohan Pathirage, for the construction of Block 04.
