The Commander of the Air Force Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonetilleke was the Chief Guest at a simple ceremony held to commemorate the 29th death anniversary of General Sir John Kothalawala at the Gen sir John Kothalawala Defence university this morning (4th Oct 2009). The Commander and his wife Mrs Nelun Goonetilleke graced the occasion and he placed  a wreath at the Statue of the late General who was the benefactor who provided for Sri Lanka's only Defence University by donating his wealth for the establishment of the then Kothalawala Defence Academy. The Commander also presented scholarships to two children of deceased KDU alumni, officers who were killed in action defending the nation. These scholarships were presented from the Gen Sir John Kothalawala trust fund. The Commander of the Air Force also spoke at the occasion and elaborated on the great contribution made by the Late General.