When Sri Lanka gained independence on the 4th of February 1948, as provided for in the defence agreement with the United Kingdom, the first prime minister of independent Ceylon, the Honorable DS Senanayake requested the United Kingdom for assistance in establishing an Air Force. The UK’s response was to provide the services of Group Captain Graham Clerk Bladen who, on 2nd March 1951, set up office in a small room at the Galle Face Hotel as the Commander of the Royal Ceylon Air Force.

Air Force Commander

In the same year, the Ground Combat Training Unit was set up at the Stable hill camp at Diyatalawa and 10 Sri Lankans were chosen as trainee pilots and using four Chipmunk aircraft they commenced their training at Katunayake.

In 1958, the RCyAF got a new Commander in the form of Air Commodore John Lindsay Barker popularly known as ‘Bouncing Barker’ for his enthusiasm and exuberance. He handed over controls to the first Sri Lankan commander, Air Vice Marshal Rohan Amerasekera in November 1962. Todate there has been a total of eleven commanders of the Air Force, and Air Marshal Roshan Goonetileke is the 12th commander of the Air Force which boasts of 6 bases and 14 stations spread throughout the country which are home to the twelve flying squadrons and the numerous Engineering, Logistical, Medical Administration, Regiment and other support organizations of the of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Except for five of these locations, all other places are home to an airfield.

In the recent past, the SLAF was at the forefront in the defence of the island, a task which it took on without hesitation and with determination. With the humanitarian operations that began in Mavil-Aru until the entire east was liberated the SLAF rendered its fullest cooperation by providing support to the Sri Lanka Army and Navy, and by its independent targeting of identified LTTE bases. The SLAF’S policy of independent targeting has been successful in the past in its attempts at reducing the fighting capability of the LTTE and in its attempts to separate the Leadership from the rank and file of the LTTE.

In commemoration of its 57th anniversary, all stations and bases of the SLAF have organized religious activities, and, as part of its social obligation, ‘shramadanas’ in the vicinity of the Base/ Station with the participation of a cross section of all persons presently serving in the Air Force.

Courtesy - MCNS