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.