News
SLAF to celebrate 71st anniversary on grand scale
Text and picture by Priyan DE SILVA
Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana at a media briefing held at the Air Force headquarters recently said that a series of religious, sports and community service events would be held in the first two weeks of March to celebrate the 71st anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The 71st Air Force Day falls on March 02 and the celebrations will commence on 01 March with the offering of Jasmine flowers at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Viharaya.
Air Force Day parades will be held at all SLAF academies, bases and stations in the island on the 2nd, while the commanders address to his troops will be made from the SLAF headquarters and live streamed at all SLAF establishments. The traditional Air Force Day reception will be held at the Air Force base Ratmalana on the same day. On March 3rd, 4th and 5th gift vouchers and mementos of remembrance will be presented to the families of all SLAF personnel killed in action.
‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya’ the annual bicycle race organized by the SLAF will be flagged off on the 4th and will end at the Katunyake Air Force base on the 6th. It will be followed by the awards ceremony at which the winners of the ‘Guwan Siththara art competition’ which will be held at district level are to receive their certificates and awards as well.
In keeping with the sustainable environmental management policy of the government’s manifesto ‘Vitas of Prosperity and Splendour’ 2500 troops will engage in a six-hour clean-up campaign in the Colombo area on the 5th morning.
The annual flag blessing ceremony will take place at the Sri Maha Bodhiya in Anuradhapura on March 9 and 10. A three-day environment cleanup programme will be held in Adam’s Peak from the 11th to the 13th.
The 71st anniversary celebrations will culminate with the Air Force Excellence Awards for the Year 2021 which will take place at the Eagle’s Lagoon View Banquet and Convention Hall at Katunayaka on March 14.
A discussion with the Catholic Council was held on Thursday (21) afternoon at the Presidential Secretariat under the co-chairmanship of Minister of Science and Technology, Chrishantha Abeysena and Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.
Discussions focused on administrative issues relating to Catholic schools taken over by the Government, the formulation of a structured teacher cadre system for Catholic religious education, the need to recruit Catholic nuns and priests into the teaching profession and the establishment of a mechanism to obtain the support of the Ministry of Education for the administration of Government-acquired Catholic schools.
It was also decided that discussions with the Catholic Council would be held three times annually, while Senior Additional Secretary to the President Roshan Gamage would serve as Secretary to the forum.
Expressing appreciation on behalf of the Catholic Council, His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith thanked President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the Government for facilitating the discussion.
His Eminence further stated that the expectation was to ensure every student, without discrimination, is given the opportunity to learn his or her own religion and stressed the importance of resolving the prevailing issues within the education sector.
Also present at the occasion were Most Rev. Bishop Harold Anthony Perera, Most Rev. Bishop Christy Noel Emmanuel, Most Rev. Bishop Anton Ranjith, Most Rev. Bishop Wimal Siri Jayasuriya, other clergy representing the Catholic Council, Secretary to the Ministry of Education, Nalaka Kaluwewa and senior officials of the Ministry of Education.
(PMD)
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Italian Navy’s ITS GIOVANNI DELLE BANDE NERE, which arrived in Colombo (21 May 2026) on a replenishment visit, departed the island today (22 May).
The Sri Lanka Navy bade a customary farewell to the departing ship in compliance with naval traditions at the port of Colombo.
During her brief stay in Colombo, the Commanding Officer of the ship, Commander Antonio BUFIS called on the Commander Western Naval Area at the Western Naval Command Headquarters.
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