Inter Unit Drill and Band Competition 2011
7:53pm on Thursday 11th August 2011
The ‘Inter Unit Drill and Band Competition 2011’ yet another annual program in the Sri Lanka Air Force calendar, successfully concluded today (11th August 2011) at the SLAF Base Katunayake ‘Parade Square’. Over 20 teams representing all SLAF establishments took part in the drill competition from which three teams, one from SLAF Base Vavuniya and two from SLAF Base Katunayake qualified to perform in the finals. Incidentally a team from SLAF Base Katunayake were champions in 2009 and a team from SLAF Base Vavuniya in 2010. All three teams displayed their talents in front of the chief guest the Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama.
SLAF Base Katunayake Team one (543 points) led by Flying Officer Seneviratna marched ahead of the other team to receive the Championship trophy from Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama whilst SLAF Base Vavuniya team (535.3) led by Pilot Officer Viduranga and SLAF Base Katunayake Team Two (534.6) led by Pilot Officer Galagedara became second and third respectively.
Drill, originated and is perpetuated in the services with the intention of making service personnel disciplined. It is basically the following the orders of the superior, which usually does not come naturally to any individual! Contrary to the popular belief that it indoctrinates, drill helps develop the personal discipline and helps all personnel develop the ability of commanding large bodies of men and directing them towards a common goal. It also helps develop the team work amongst the group which is very much a requirement for the armed forces and helps one develop sharpness and accuracy in one’s response to general matters of concern.
The Band Competition was between the Military Band of the Red Wing of SLAF Base Katunayake and the military band of SLAF Academy China Bay.
The SLAF has a total of 4 military bands. The first Military band formed up on the 1st of July 1970 and was divided into two in 2002. Known as the Band A and Band B initially, they were later renamed as Red Wing and Green Wing in 2005. In 2007 in order to reduce the burden on the two military bands and to meet the requirement of the passing out parades and other ceremonial activities of the basic training establishment of the SLAF at SLAF Diyatalawa a third Military band was formed and based permanently in Diyatalawa. Similarly with the re-establishing of the SLAF Academy in China bay, the need for a fourth Military Band arose and thus the Military Band of China Bay was formed in 2009.
Today, the two bands in the finals put on a combined display of music and drill at SLAF Katunayake and entertained the audience with their precision moves and quick tempo music. However though both bands were equally good one always will do better and It was the band from SLAF Academy China Bay Which won the inter Unit Band Competition whilst Red Wing of SLAF Base Katunayake became the runners up.
SLAF Base Katunayake Team one (543 points) led by Flying Officer Seneviratna marched ahead of the other team to receive the Championship trophy from Air Marshal Harsha Abeywickrama whilst SLAF Base Vavuniya team (535.3) led by Pilot Officer Viduranga and SLAF Base Katunayake Team Two (534.6) led by Pilot Officer Galagedara became second and third respectively.
Drill, originated and is perpetuated in the services with the intention of making service personnel disciplined. It is basically the following the orders of the superior, which usually does not come naturally to any individual! Contrary to the popular belief that it indoctrinates, drill helps develop the personal discipline and helps all personnel develop the ability of commanding large bodies of men and directing them towards a common goal. It also helps develop the team work amongst the group which is very much a requirement for the armed forces and helps one develop sharpness and accuracy in one’s response to general matters of concern.
The Band Competition was between the Military Band of the Red Wing of SLAF Base Katunayake and the military band of SLAF Academy China Bay.
The SLAF has a total of 4 military bands. The first Military band formed up on the 1st of July 1970 and was divided into two in 2002. Known as the Band A and Band B initially, they were later renamed as Red Wing and Green Wing in 2005. In 2007 in order to reduce the burden on the two military bands and to meet the requirement of the passing out parades and other ceremonial activities of the basic training establishment of the SLAF at SLAF Diyatalawa a third Military band was formed and based permanently in Diyatalawa. Similarly with the re-establishing of the SLAF Academy in China bay, the need for a fourth Military Band arose and thus the Military Band of China Bay was formed in 2009.
Today, the two bands in the finals put on a combined display of music and drill at SLAF Katunayake and entertained the audience with their precision moves and quick tempo music. However though both bands were equally good one always will do better and It was the band from SLAF Academy China Bay Which won the inter Unit Band Competition whilst Red Wing of SLAF Base Katunayake became the runners up.
