AIR VICE MARSHAL ROHANA PATHIRAGE BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
4:13pm on Monday 30th December 2024
Air Vice Marshal Rohana Jayalal Pathirage VSV, USP, M Eng, MoSS (Ban), BSc (Eng), C Eng, MIE (SL), ndc, concluded 43 years of dedicated service to the nation upon his retirement from the Sri Lanka Air Force today (30 December 2024). Having initially retired in 2016, he resumed duties on Mobilized Service from 12 October 2016, culminating his illustrious career as the Director of the Project Management Unit at the Defence Headquarters Complex, Akuregoda.
Marking this significant milestone, Air Vice Marshal Pathirage paid an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, at Air Force Headquarters. The Commander commended Air Vice Marshal Pathirage for his exemplary and dedicated service to the nation and the Sri Lanka Air Force, emphasizing his pivotal contributions during critical periods for the country. He acknowledged that Air Vice Marshal Pathirage’s dedicated efforts will remain etched in the history of the SLAF.
The Commander and Air Vice Marshal Pathirage exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. Following this formal meeting, Air Vice Marshal Pathirage was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing. He then departed from Air Force Headquarters at the Defence Headquarters Complex for the final time, bringing to a close a career marked by dedication, resilience and profound service to the nation.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage commenced his distinguished career in the Sri Lanka Air Force on 02 March 1981, joining as an Officer Cadet in the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering Branch through the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, following his secondary education at Royal College, Colombo. Throughout his illustrious tenure spanning over 40 years, including the period of mobilization, he has rendered exemplary service to the SLAF, excelling in a diverse range of roles and responsibilities entrusted to him within his branch.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage undertook a series of academic and professional training courses that laid the foundation for his distinguished career. Between 1981 and 1985, he completed the Basic Combat Course at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in Ratmalana, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, the Student Officers' Initial Course at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda, and the Basic Administrative Course at the Combat Training School, SLAF Academy China Bay.
In 1987–1988, he successfully completed the Ground Radar Officers’ Course in the United Kingdom. In 1990, he pursued specialized training in the United States, completing the Bell 212 Helicopter Wire-Harness and Bell 212 Helicopter courses. He furthered his professional development with the Junior Command and Staff Course in India in 1992 and the Senior Engineering Management Orientation Course in India in 1996.
In pursuit of academic excellence, he earned a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Moratuwa in 2009. Further broadening his strategic and security expertise, he completed in Bangladesh both the National Defence Course and the Master of Security Studies at the Bangladesh University of Professionals in 2010.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage has held several key command appointments throughout his distinguished career. From 1992 to 1999, he served as the Commanding Officer of No. 01 Electronics and Telecommunication Wing at SLAF Base Katunayake. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of No. 02 Electronics and Telecommunication Wing at SLAF Base Ratmalana, a position he held from 1999 to 2007. He then served as the Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, he assumed the role of Director Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering at Air Force Headquarters, Colombo, where he served until 2016. Thereafter, he was appointed as the Director of the Project Management Unit for the Defence Headquarters Complex in Akuregoda, a position he held from 2016 to 2024, demonstrating his expertise and leadership in high capacity.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage has consistently demonstrated exceptional accuracy and reliability in his professional endeavors, showcasing a profound understanding of hierarchical requirements. His ability to provide diplomatic, logical, and well-justified recommendations has been pivotal in driving effective decision-making and onward actions. His responsiveness to changes and challenges has been integral to maintaining the uninterrupted operational readiness of the Sri Lanka Air Force’s telecommunication, radio communications, avionics, and general-purpose electronic systems under all conditions. Air Vice Marshal Pathirage’s expertise in analysis and planning has been exemplified through his successful execution of avionics system upgrades and the enhancement of wire harness fabrication facilities for the SLAF aircraft fleet. His strategic foresight in digitalizing SLAF activities was notably demonstrated during his tenure as the Director of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering.
In addition, Air Vice Marshal Pathirage served as the Director of the Project Management Unit during the construction of the Defence Headquarters Complex at Akuregoda. In this role, he excelled as a strategic decision-maker and advisor, consistently aligning recommendations with hierarchical objectives. His diplomatic and logical approach, coupled with the ability to propose practical and effective solutions, significantly contributed to the success of this landmark project and the formulation of future plans.
Marking this significant milestone, Air Vice Marshal Pathirage paid an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa, at Air Force Headquarters. The Commander commended Air Vice Marshal Pathirage for his exemplary and dedicated service to the nation and the Sri Lanka Air Force, emphasizing his pivotal contributions during critical periods for the country. He acknowledged that Air Vice Marshal Pathirage’s dedicated efforts will remain etched in the history of the SLAF.
The Commander and Air Vice Marshal Pathirage exchanged mementos to mark the occasion. Following this formal meeting, Air Vice Marshal Pathirage was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing. He then departed from Air Force Headquarters at the Defence Headquarters Complex for the final time, bringing to a close a career marked by dedication, resilience and profound service to the nation.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage commenced his distinguished career in the Sri Lanka Air Force on 02 March 1981, joining as an Officer Cadet in the Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering Branch through the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, following his secondary education at Royal College, Colombo. Throughout his illustrious tenure spanning over 40 years, including the period of mobilization, he has rendered exemplary service to the SLAF, excelling in a diverse range of roles and responsibilities entrusted to him within his branch.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage undertook a series of academic and professional training courses that laid the foundation for his distinguished career. Between 1981 and 1985, he completed the Basic Combat Course at the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University in Ratmalana, the Bachelor of Science in Engineering at the University of Moratuwa, the Student Officers' Initial Course at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda, and the Basic Administrative Course at the Combat Training School, SLAF Academy China Bay.
In 1987–1988, he successfully completed the Ground Radar Officers’ Course in the United Kingdom. In 1990, he pursued specialized training in the United States, completing the Bell 212 Helicopter Wire-Harness and Bell 212 Helicopter courses. He furthered his professional development with the Junior Command and Staff Course in India in 1992 and the Senior Engineering Management Orientation Course in India in 1996.
In pursuit of academic excellence, he earned a Master of Engineering degree from the University of Moratuwa in 2009. Further broadening his strategic and security expertise, he completed in Bangladesh both the National Defence Course and the Master of Security Studies at the Bangladesh University of Professionals in 2010.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage has held several key command appointments throughout his distinguished career. From 1992 to 1999, he served as the Commanding Officer of No. 01 Electronics and Telecommunication Wing at SLAF Base Katunayake. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of No. 02 Electronics and Telecommunication Wing at SLAF Base Ratmalana, a position he held from 1999 to 2007. He then served as the Base Commander of SLAF Base Ratmalana from 2007 to 2008. In 2008, he assumed the role of Director Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering at Air Force Headquarters, Colombo, where he served until 2016. Thereafter, he was appointed as the Director of the Project Management Unit for the Defence Headquarters Complex in Akuregoda, a position he held from 2016 to 2024, demonstrating his expertise and leadership in high capacity.
Air Vice Marshal Pathirage has consistently demonstrated exceptional accuracy and reliability in his professional endeavors, showcasing a profound understanding of hierarchical requirements. His ability to provide diplomatic, logical, and well-justified recommendations has been pivotal in driving effective decision-making and onward actions. His responsiveness to changes and challenges has been integral to maintaining the uninterrupted operational readiness of the Sri Lanka Air Force’s telecommunication, radio communications, avionics, and general-purpose electronic systems under all conditions. Air Vice Marshal Pathirage’s expertise in analysis and planning has been exemplified through his successful execution of avionics system upgrades and the enhancement of wire harness fabrication facilities for the SLAF aircraft fleet. His strategic foresight in digitalizing SLAF activities was notably demonstrated during his tenure as the Director of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering.
In addition, Air Vice Marshal Pathirage served as the Director of the Project Management Unit during the construction of the Defence Headquarters Complex at Akuregoda. In this role, he excelled as a strategic decision-maker and advisor, consistently aligning recommendations with hierarchical objectives. His diplomatic and logical approach, coupled with the ability to propose practical and effective solutions, significantly contributed to the success of this landmark project and the formulation of future plans.
