SLAF SPORTSMEN AND WOMEN HONOURED AT AIR FORCE COLOURS NIGHT 2024 - 2025
The Air Force Colours Night 2024–2025 was
held yesterday (02 June 2026) at a gala ceremony at the Eagle’s
Lakeside Banquet and Convention Hall - Attidiya. The Chief Guest,
Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath
Thuyacontha (Retd), accompanied by his spouse, Dr. Rasika Perera, was
warmly welcomed upon arrival by the Commander of the Air Force, Air
Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe and his lady Mrs. Krishanthi
Edirisinghe.
Held biennially, the Air Force Colours Night shines a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of sports personalities within the Sri Lanka Air Force. This prestigious event pays tribute to the dedication, sacrifice and hard work of all those involved in various sports disciplines in the SLAF. This year, 33 sports disciplines were evaluated and 206 sports personalities received SLAF Colours. Additionally, 80 exceptional athletes who demonstrated outstanding performances during the review period were honoured with the Golden Eagle Awards.
The first formal Air Force Colours Night was held in 1964 by the Royal Ceylon Air Force. At that event, Colours for 1962 and 1963 were awarded along with the Trophy for the Most Outstanding Sportsman of the Year, termed the Varatharasa Memorial Trophy, in memory of the late Flight Lieutenant Appapillai Varatharasa, who died in an air crash in China Bay. Accordingly, Flight Sergeant Bertie Ekanayake became the first recipient of the prestigious Varatharasa Trophy in 1962. The first woman to receive SLAF Colours was Leading Aircraftwoman Hadunsuriya KMPK, who earned Colours for Shooting in 1985.
At the Sri Lanka Air Force Colours Night 2024/2025, outstanding sporting achievements and exemplary contributions to Service sports were recognized and celebrated. Among the major award recipients, Aircraftman Fernando MAS and Aircraftman Kaushan SSM were honoured with the Air Chief Marshal Harry Gunathilleke Memorial Trophy as the Best Rugby Players of 2024 and 2025 respectively. Sergeant De Zoysa ASM (Manager - Archery) and Sergeant Janaka RDP (Manager – Carrom) received the Air Chief Marshal DC Perera Memorial Trophy for the Most Dedicated Sports Personality in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The Women’s Handball Team and Women’s Weightlifting Team were adjudged the Most Outstanding Women’s Teams, while the Men’s Archery Team and Men’s Wrestling Team secured the titles of Most Outstanding Men’s Teams for 2024 and 2025. Flying Officer JMS Savindi (Swimming) and Leading Aircraftman Gurugama GGGDT (Weightlifting) were recognized as the Most Outstanding Upcoming Sports Personalities, receiving the Group Captain Roger Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy. In the women’s category, Sergeant Fernando SWIP (Cricket) and Corporal Kavindi TGT (Carrom) were named runners-up for the Most Outstanding Sportswoman awards, while Corporal Kavindi TGT (Carrom) and Corporal Fernando MANH (Athletics) were honoured as the Most Outstanding Sportswomen for 2024 and 2025 respectively.
In the Men’s category, Leading Aircraftman Dissanayaka HASM (Weightlifting) and Corporal Shaheed MHM (Carrom) were recognized as Runners-Up for the Most Outstanding Sportsman awards in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The prestigious Flight Lieutenant A. Vartharasa Memorial Trophy for the Most Outstanding Sportsman was awarded to Corporal Peiris PKN (Carrom) in 2024 and Corporal Tharanga PR (Athletics) in 2025. Recognizing excellence at unit level, SLAF Academy China Bay received the Air Chief Marshal MJT De S Gunawardana Memorial Trophy as the Runner-Up Most Outstanding Sports Unit for 2024/2025, while SLAF Station Sri Jayewardenepura was presented with the Vernon Rajapaksha Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding Sports Unit for 2024/2025.
In addition to the main award categories, special recognition certificates were presented to the Angampora Team, Ground Construction and Maintenance Crew, Physiotherapists and Masseurs in appreciation of their valuable contributions to the development and success of SLAF sports.
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Gihan Seneviratne, members of the Air Force Board of Management, special invitees, senior officers, sports editors and most importantly, the family members of the sports achievers, were present at this grand ceremony, which honoured the keen sportsmen and women in various sports disciplines.
Finally, Chief Guest of the Colours Night 2024–2025, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), addressed the gathering, expressing his inspiring thoughts at the felicitation ceremony.
Held biennially, the Air Force Colours Night shines a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of sports personalities within the Sri Lanka Air Force. This prestigious event pays tribute to the dedication, sacrifice and hard work of all those involved in various sports disciplines in the SLAF. This year, 33 sports disciplines were evaluated and 206 sports personalities received SLAF Colours. Additionally, 80 exceptional athletes who demonstrated outstanding performances during the review period were honoured with the Golden Eagle Awards.
The first formal Air Force Colours Night was held in 1964 by the Royal Ceylon Air Force. At that event, Colours for 1962 and 1963 were awarded along with the Trophy for the Most Outstanding Sportsman of the Year, termed the Varatharasa Memorial Trophy, in memory of the late Flight Lieutenant Appapillai Varatharasa, who died in an air crash in China Bay. Accordingly, Flight Sergeant Bertie Ekanayake became the first recipient of the prestigious Varatharasa Trophy in 1962. The first woman to receive SLAF Colours was Leading Aircraftwoman Hadunsuriya KMPK, who earned Colours for Shooting in 1985.
At the Sri Lanka Air Force Colours Night 2024/2025, outstanding sporting achievements and exemplary contributions to Service sports were recognized and celebrated. Among the major award recipients, Aircraftman Fernando MAS and Aircraftman Kaushan SSM were honoured with the Air Chief Marshal Harry Gunathilleke Memorial Trophy as the Best Rugby Players of 2024 and 2025 respectively. Sergeant De Zoysa ASM (Manager - Archery) and Sergeant Janaka RDP (Manager – Carrom) received the Air Chief Marshal DC Perera Memorial Trophy for the Most Dedicated Sports Personality in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The Women’s Handball Team and Women’s Weightlifting Team were adjudged the Most Outstanding Women’s Teams, while the Men’s Archery Team and Men’s Wrestling Team secured the titles of Most Outstanding Men’s Teams for 2024 and 2025. Flying Officer JMS Savindi (Swimming) and Leading Aircraftman Gurugama GGGDT (Weightlifting) were recognized as the Most Outstanding Upcoming Sports Personalities, receiving the Group Captain Roger Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy. In the women’s category, Sergeant Fernando SWIP (Cricket) and Corporal Kavindi TGT (Carrom) were named runners-up for the Most Outstanding Sportswoman awards, while Corporal Kavindi TGT (Carrom) and Corporal Fernando MANH (Athletics) were honoured as the Most Outstanding Sportswomen for 2024 and 2025 respectively.
In the Men’s category, Leading Aircraftman Dissanayaka HASM (Weightlifting) and Corporal Shaheed MHM (Carrom) were recognized as Runners-Up for the Most Outstanding Sportsman awards in 2024 and 2025 respectively. The prestigious Flight Lieutenant A. Vartharasa Memorial Trophy for the Most Outstanding Sportsman was awarded to Corporal Peiris PKN (Carrom) in 2024 and Corporal Tharanga PR (Athletics) in 2025. Recognizing excellence at unit level, SLAF Academy China Bay received the Air Chief Marshal MJT De S Gunawardana Memorial Trophy as the Runner-Up Most Outstanding Sports Unit for 2024/2025, while SLAF Station Sri Jayewardenepura was presented with the Vernon Rajapaksha Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding Sports Unit for 2024/2025.
In addition to the main award categories, special recognition certificates were presented to the Angampora Team, Ground Construction and Maintenance Crew, Physiotherapists and Masseurs in appreciation of their valuable contributions to the development and success of SLAF sports.
The Deputy Chief of Staff of the SLAF, Air Vice Marshal Gihan Seneviratne, members of the Air Force Board of Management, special invitees, senior officers, sports editors and most importantly, the family members of the sports achievers, were present at this grand ceremony, which honoured the keen sportsmen and women in various sports disciplines.
Finally, Chief Guest of the Colours Night 2024–2025, Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), addressed the gathering, expressing his inspiring thoughts at the felicitation ceremony.
