AIR VICE MARSHAL SAMPATH WICKREMARATNE BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
1:23pm on Monday 3rd March 2025
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremaratne RWP and two Bars, RSP and two Bars, USP, MSc(Strat Stu), MPhil, MIM (SL), MITD (SL), ndc (Ind), fawc, qfi, bid adieu to the Sri Lanka Air Force today (03 March 2025), after completing 36 years of dedicated service to the nation. At the time of his retirement, he held the appointment of Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Air Vice Marshal Wickremarantne made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, at his office. 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 Wickremarantne exchanged mementos to mark the occasion.
Subsequently, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before departing from Air Force Headquarters at Defence Headquarters Complex for the last time.
In recognition of the outstanding service rendered to the nation, the Farewell Dinner was graciously hosted in honour of Air Vice Marshal Wickremarantne with the presence of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe along with Chairperson SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Krishanthi Edirisinghe and the members of the Air Force Board of Management. This momentous occasion took place at the Air Force Officers' Mess in Ratmalana.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne, joined the SLAF in the General Duties Pilot Branch in 1989. He was chosen to be specialized as a fighter pilot of his illustrious career, flying many different fighter platforms. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Qualified flight Safety Officer and was given extensive training in Pakistan, Israel, China, India and Ecuador.
Before assuming duties as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, he served as the Director General Air Operations, diplomat at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC in the post of Minister (Defence) where he was responsible for maintaining friendly bi-lateral relations of the militaries of Sri Lanka and the USA.
In 2007, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of No 05 Fighter Squadron at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake. His contributions in service to the country were amply recognized and appreciated by the award of gallantry medals in six occasions and also, he was awarded Uttama Seva Padakkama for his unblemished service career to date.
From August 2012 to June 2014, he commanded both No 05 and No 10 Fighter Squadrons which are in possession of multirole fighter jets.
In his pursuance of academic qualifications, he completed his, ndc in India, M Phil (Def & Strat Stu) Madras University with ‘A First Class’, Fellowship of Air War College from the Air War Collage Pakistan, MSc (Strat Stu) from National Defence University Pakistan, Senior Aviation Commanders Course from Air Force Command College China, Diploma in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Qualified Flight Safety Officer Course in Pakistan, Qualified Flying instructor course in India, participated in IHL related Flight Planners Course in Italy.
In moving from operational to higher level management in the Sri Lanka Air Force, AVM Sampath Wickremeratne was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda which is the home for two highly operational helicopter squadrons in 2014.
In Jan 2017 he was posted to Air Force Headquarters as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the Directorate of Air Operations and handled Air Operations at Air Headquarters and Ministry of Defence (MOD) level.
In Sep 2018 he was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana which is the home of 12 independent formations including the VVIP Helicopter Squadron. During the tenures as the Base Commander, he was responsible for coordinating HADR operations in the North-East and South- East of the country respectively.
He was nominated for several high level engagements in the defence establishment during past years. Among those were; member of formulating the Defence Policy for cabinet approval in 2018/19, represented the Air Force in Japan – Sri Lanka initial talks for operational engagements in defence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Delegation to visit Bangladesh UN Mission establishments to make recommendations to the SLAF UN operations, represented SLAF at the US Indo Pacific talks, represented SLAF at 2019 International Flight Safety Seminar in Dhaka, Member of high level officers delegation to visit China on BRI, member of the board appointed by the office of Chief of Defence Staff to make recommendations on Australian Mutual Logistic Support Agreement.
Air Vice Marshal Wickremarantne made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, at his office. 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 Wickremarantne exchanged mementos to mark the occasion.
Subsequently, he was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before departing from Air Force Headquarters at Defence Headquarters Complex for the last time.
In recognition of the outstanding service rendered to the nation, the Farewell Dinner was graciously hosted in honour of Air Vice Marshal Wickremarantne with the presence of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe along with Chairperson SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Krishanthi Edirisinghe and the members of the Air Force Board of Management. This momentous occasion took place at the Air Force Officers' Mess in Ratmalana.
Air Vice Marshal Sampath Wickremeratne, joined the SLAF in the General Duties Pilot Branch in 1989. He was chosen to be specialized as a fighter pilot of his illustrious career, flying many different fighter platforms. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor, Qualified flight Safety Officer and was given extensive training in Pakistan, Israel, China, India and Ecuador.
Before assuming duties as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, he served as the Director General Air Operations, diplomat at the Sri Lankan Embassy in Washington DC in the post of Minister (Defence) where he was responsible for maintaining friendly bi-lateral relations of the militaries of Sri Lanka and the USA.
In 2007, he was appointed as the Commanding Officer of No 05 Fighter Squadron at Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake. His contributions in service to the country were amply recognized and appreciated by the award of gallantry medals in six occasions and also, he was awarded Uttama Seva Padakkama for his unblemished service career to date.
From August 2012 to June 2014, he commanded both No 05 and No 10 Fighter Squadrons which are in possession of multirole fighter jets.
In his pursuance of academic qualifications, he completed his, ndc in India, M Phil (Def & Strat Stu) Madras University with ‘A First Class’, Fellowship of Air War College from the Air War Collage Pakistan, MSc (Strat Stu) from National Defence University Pakistan, Senior Aviation Commanders Course from Air Force Command College China, Diploma in Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law, Qualified Flight Safety Officer Course in Pakistan, Qualified Flying instructor course in India, participated in IHL related Flight Planners Course in Italy.
In moving from operational to higher level management in the Sri Lanka Air Force, AVM Sampath Wickremeratne was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Hingurakgoda which is the home for two highly operational helicopter squadrons in 2014.
In Jan 2017 he was posted to Air Force Headquarters as the Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) at the Directorate of Air Operations and handled Air Operations at Air Headquarters and Ministry of Defence (MOD) level.
In Sep 2018 he was appointed as the Base Commander Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana which is the home of 12 independent formations including the VVIP Helicopter Squadron. During the tenures as the Base Commander, he was responsible for coordinating HADR operations in the North-East and South- East of the country respectively.
He was nominated for several high level engagements in the defence establishment during past years. Among those were; member of formulating the Defence Policy for cabinet approval in 2018/19, represented the Air Force in Japan – Sri Lanka initial talks for operational engagements in defence at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Head of Delegation to visit Bangladesh UN Mission establishments to make recommendations to the SLAF UN operations, represented SLAF at the US Indo Pacific talks, represented SLAF at 2019 International Flight Safety Seminar in Dhaka, Member of high level officers delegation to visit China on BRI, member of the board appointed by the office of Chief of Defence Staff to make recommendations on Australian Mutual Logistic Support Agreement.
Farewell call on
Guard Of Honor
Dining Out
