DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE SLAF WAS APPOINTED
Air Vice Marshal Padman De Costa USP ndc MBA in HRM MHRM was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, with effect from today (18 August 2026). The Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, officially handed over the letter of appointment to Air Vice Marshal Padman De Costa at the Air Force Headquarters today and conveyed his best wishes to the newly appointed Deputy Chief of Staff.
Air Vice Marshal Padman De Costa having received his primary and secondary education at Parakrama Vidyalaya Gampaha and Royal College Colombo respectively, joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 17 August 1993 as an Officer Cadet in the 26th Intake. He was subsequently commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on 17 April 1995 in the Administrative Branch.
AVM De Costa graduated as the Best All-round Officer at the 17th Junior Command and Staff Course at the Junior Command and Staff College in Sri Lanka Air Force China bay in 2004. He was adjudged the Most Outstanding Officer from the Sri Lanka Air Force at the inaugural National Security and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College of Sri Lanka in 2022. He has obtained a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management with a merit pass from the University of Colombo and MBA Degree from the Open University of Sri Lanka. Besides, he has completed his MPhil Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He has functioned as the Staff Officer Administration to three Commanders in the Sri Lanka Air Force, Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff, Deputy Provost Marshal and Acting Director Provost at the Air Force Headquarters. Subsequently, he held the appointment of Senior Directing Staff (Air Force) at the National Defence College of Sri Lanka and Military Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Defence prior to taking over the duties as the Deputy Chief of Staff.
Air Vice Marshal De Costa represented the SLAF Men’s Volleyball team, which became champions at the National “A” Division Volleyball Championship and Runner up at the National Super League Volleyball Championship. He is a recipient of Air Force and Defence Services Colours for Volleyball. Further, he is the incumbent President of the Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Committee of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).
He is married to Gayathri and blessed with two sons.
Air Vice Marshal Padman De Costa having received his primary and secondary education at Parakrama Vidyalaya Gampaha and Royal College Colombo respectively, joined the Sri Lanka Air Force on 17 August 1993 as an Officer Cadet in the 26th Intake. He was subsequently commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on 17 April 1995 in the Administrative Branch.
AVM De Costa graduated as the Best All-round Officer at the 17th Junior Command and Staff Course at the Junior Command and Staff College in Sri Lanka Air Force China bay in 2004. He was adjudged the Most Outstanding Officer from the Sri Lanka Air Force at the inaugural National Security and Strategic Studies Course at the National Defence College of Sri Lanka in 2022. He has obtained a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management with a merit pass from the University of Colombo and MBA Degree from the Open University of Sri Lanka. Besides, he has completed his MPhil Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies at Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He has functioned as the Staff Officer Administration to three Commanders in the Sri Lanka Air Force, Secretary to the Chief of Defence Staff, Deputy Provost Marshal and Acting Director Provost at the Air Force Headquarters. Subsequently, he held the appointment of Senior Directing Staff (Air Force) at the National Defence College of Sri Lanka and Military Liaison Officer at the Ministry of Defence prior to taking over the duties as the Deputy Chief of Staff.
Air Vice Marshal De Costa represented the SLAF Men’s Volleyball team, which became champions at the National “A” Division Volleyball Championship and Runner up at the National Super League Volleyball Championship. He is a recipient of Air Force and Defence Services Colours for Volleyball. Further, he is the incumbent President of the Volleyball and Beach Volleyball Committee of the International Military Sports Council (CISM).
He is married to Gayathri and blessed with two sons.