The SLAF commemorated the Sinhala and Hindu New Year with the "Aurudu Udanaya" and "Aurudu Pola" , which featured a vibrant display of traditional Sri Lankan culture. These festivities were organized under the auspices of the Directorate of Welfare in collaboration with SLAF Base Katunayake and were held today (11 April 2025) at the Sports Ground of SLAF Base Katunayake.

The event was graced by the presence of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, accompanied by the Chairperson of the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Krishanthi Edirisinghe. Upon arrival, the Chief Guests were warmly received by the Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Commodore Asela Jayasekara.

A diverse range of traditional New Year games, including Marathon, Tug of War and ‘Kotta Pora,’ were held during the celebration, allowing participants to display their strength, agility and sportsmanship. A major highlight of the occasion was the eagerly awaited ‘Aurudu Kumara’ and ‘Aurudu Kumariya’ pageants, where young contestants captivated the audience with their charm and talent.

A large number of SLAF personnel, including officers, airmen, airwomen and civilian staff, attended the event alongside their families, who took part enthusiastically in the day’s activities. The "Aurudu Pola" emerged as a notable attraction, offering a variety of goods at concessionary prices through stalls managed by SLAF establishments from across the country.

The Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff, members of the Air Force Board of Management and Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Commodore Asela Jayasekara, were also in attendance, accompanied by their spouses.

Awurudu Udanaya