New Air Force Chief Calls on Defence Secretary
November 04, 2020Newly appointed Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, in keeping with the tradition, called on Defence Secretary Maj. Gen. (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne at the Defence Ministry, today (Nov 04).
Air Marshal Pathirana was appointed as the 18th SLAF Commander last Monday (02), following the retirement of Air Chief Marshal Sumangala Dias.
Mementos were exchanged between the Defence Secretary and the new SLAF Commander to mark the occasion.
Air Marshal Pathirana who was enlisted in the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1985, as an Officer Cadet in the 14th intake had undergone basic ground training at the Air Force Training Base Diyathalawa.
He was a member of the first batch of pilots to fly supersonic aircraft in Sri Lanka and commanded the No 5 & 10 Fighter Squadrons.
Air Marshal Pathirana followed Junior Command and Staff Course at the Command and Staff and Training Institute, Bangladesh.
He was the first SLAF Officer to obtain Masters Degree in Operational Art and Science from the Air University, Alabama in USA.
He also earned a Masters Degree (Defence Studies) in Management from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University securing the first in order of merit.
Following the completion of “ndc”, he was awarded a Master in Philosophy from the University of Chennai in 2012.
In recognition of his unblemished service, Air Marshal Pathirana has been awarded the medals of “Vishishta Seva Vibhushanaya” and the “Uttama Seva Padakkama” he is a recipient of “Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya” medal twice, for his gallant and selfless contribution during the humanitarian operations, “Rana Wickrama Padakkama” twice and “Rana Sura Padakkama” at four occasions.
Prior to being appointed as the Air Force Chief, Air Marshal Pathirana had been serving as the SLAF Chief of Staff.
