The Varatharasa trophy, awarded to the most outstanding SLAF sportsman for-2008 went out to (08592) Corporal Silva this evening (02 October 2009) at the colours awarding ceremony held at Hotel Galadari. The ceremony is an annual feature in the SLAF sporting calendar, to felicitate all its sporting figures who have earned credit and honour in the past year.

The secretary, to His Excellency to the President, honorable Mr. Lalith Weerathunga the chief guest for the occasion was invited to present the four special awards to the following sporting figures……



Varatharasa trophy for most outstanding sportsman Corporal Silva (Shooter)

Flight Lieutenant P Abeyweera Gunawardana trophy for most outstanding sportswoman Corporal Priyadarshani (Athlete)

Air vice Marshal WDHSW Goonetilake trophy for the most outstanding runner up sportsman Leading Air Craft man Sameer (Athlete)

Air Force Sports Council trophy for the most outstanding runner up sportswoman Sergeant Weerasinghe (Shooter)

 A total of 159 Sports men and women in 19 Sports disciplines were honoured at this grand ceremony in which the below mentioned 19 of them received the Golden Eagle award for the remarkable performance displayed.

Squadron Leader  Dassanayake                        – Rowing (Male)

Flight Lieutenant  Kumara                                – Cricket (Male)

Sergeant  Chandrasiri                                       – Shooter (Male)

Sergeant  Weerasinghe                                      – Shooter (Female)

Leading Air Craft Man  Karunarathna            – Hockey (Male)

Leading Air Craft Man  Sameer                         - Athlete (Male)

Corporal  Priyadarshani                                   - Athlete (Female)   

Air Craft Man  Silva                                           – Cycling (Male)

Leading  Air Craft Man  Srikanth                   – Soccer (Male)

Leading  Air Craft Woman  Nilushika            – Netball (Female)

Corporal Priyadarshana                                 – Swimming (Male)

Corporal  Jayakodi                                          – Swimming (Female)

Sergeant  Herath                                              – Water Polo (Male)

Corporal  Pathirana                                       – Water Polo (Female)

Leading  Air Craft Man  Liyanage               – Wrestling (Male)

Sergeant  Jayarathne                                      – Volleyball (Female)

Air Craft Man  Bandara                                 – Weight Lifting (Male)

Corporal  Silva Silva                                      – Beach Volleyball (Male)

Corporal  Hewage                                         - Beach Volleyball (Female)

The Commander of the Air force Air Chief Marshal, Roshan Goonetilake, members of the board of management and several other senior ranking officers were present at the ceremony.