Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonetileke passes away

The fifth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonetileke, NDC, PSC died on Friday at the age of 79.

Air Chief Marshal Goonetileke is the father of Present Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Goonetileke and the late group captain Shirantha Goonetileke, who died in action in 1995.

Goonetileke joined the Royal Ceylon Air Force in 1951 and piloted some of the very first aircraft the Lankan Air Force possessed.

He became the fifth commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1976 and served in this position till 1981. He was also known as the father of Air Force Rugby.

Since his retirement Air Chief Marshal Goonetileke contributed extensively on the defence and the political affairs to various newspapers in the country. His funeral took place with full Air Force honours at General Cemetery Kanatte, Borella yesterday.

AP