Six new SLAF pilots

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA from China Bay

Six new pilots were inducted to Sri Lanka Air Force at the Commissioning and Wings Parade of the Officer Cadets of the Intake 50 held at Air Force Base, China Bay in Trincomalee.

The six pilots received their Flying Brevets from the Chief Guest, Secretary Ministry of Defence Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. The six pilots, Officer Cadets M.P.K.T. Kumara, J.A.R. Jayawickrama, D.R. Randunuge, G.D.M. Rukshan, A.A.D. Tharanga and G.A.T. Gadiarachchi will join the General Duties Pilot Branch. The Commissioning and wings parade of 16 Cadet Officers and the passing out parade of 316 airmen of the No.136 Regular and No.94 Volunteer Airmen Initial Recruit Course were held last week. This is the first passing out parade, the SLAF held following the end of war against terrorism.

Officer Cadet W.K.P.G.S. Dharmasiriwardhana received the ‘Sword of Honour’ from the Secretary Ministry of Defence. He also received the award for the best student of the Intake 50. Airman D.K.T. Luids was the best all-round recruit out of the 127 airmen of the 136 Intake Regular Airmen Course. Airman U.S.D. Gunawardana was the best all-round recruit of the 94 Intake Volunteer Airmen Recruit Course.

Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilake, Commandant of the Air Force Academy Group Captain N.H.V. Gunaratne and several other senior and junior officers attended the event as well as the members of the families and friends of the new Officer Cadets and airmen.