VIBRANT TRADITIONS AND SPIRITED CELEBRATIONS MARK ‘AURUDU UDANAYA’ AT SLAF BASE KATUNAYAKE
The Sri Lanka Air Force celebrated the Sinhala and Hindu New Year today (10 April 2026), with the festive "Aurudu Udanaya" held at the sports grounds of SLAF Base Katunayake.
The festivities were held under the patronage of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, who was accompanied by the Chairperson of the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Krishanthi Edirisinghe. They were warmly welcomed by the Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Vice Marshal Amitha Jayamaha and other senior officials. The Chief of Staff, the Air Force Board of Management, and other senior officers were also in attendance with their spouses to witness the day’s events.
A wide array of traditional New Year games was organized, encouraging participants to demonstrate their sportsmanship and agility. The celebrations kicked off with a Marathon and a Cycling competition, followed by time-honored events including ‘Wasana Muttiya Bideema,’ ‘Aliyata Aha Thabeema,’ and ‘Kotta Pora’. Other high-energy contests such as the ‘Lissana Gaha Nagima,’ ‘Tug of War,’ and the ‘Sack Race’ drew enthusiastic cheers from the spectators. A major highlight of the day was the ‘Aurudu Kumara’ and ‘Aurudu Kumariya’ pageants, where the grace and talent of the young contestants captivated the audience.
The event saw a large gathering of SLAF personnel, including Officers, Airmen, Airwomen, and civilian staff, who participated alongside their families.
The festivities were held under the patronage of the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, who was accompanied by the Chairperson of the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Krishanthi Edirisinghe. They were warmly welcomed by the Base Commander of SLAF Base Katunayake, Air Vice Marshal Amitha Jayamaha and other senior officials. The Chief of Staff, the Air Force Board of Management, and other senior officers were also in attendance with their spouses to witness the day’s events.
A wide array of traditional New Year games was organized, encouraging participants to demonstrate their sportsmanship and agility. The celebrations kicked off with a Marathon and a Cycling competition, followed by time-honored events including ‘Wasana Muttiya Bideema,’ ‘Aliyata Aha Thabeema,’ and ‘Kotta Pora’. Other high-energy contests such as the ‘Lissana Gaha Nagima,’ ‘Tug of War,’ and the ‘Sack Race’ drew enthusiastic cheers from the spectators. A major highlight of the day was the ‘Aurudu Kumara’ and ‘Aurudu Kumariya’ pageants, where the grace and talent of the young contestants captivated the audience.
The event saw a large gathering of SLAF personnel, including Officers, Airmen, Airwomen, and civilian staff, who participated alongside their families.
