News
Long after MiGs were removed from active service, mothballed fighter handed over to Moratuwa University
Air Force Commander Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana recemt;u handed over a MiG-27 fighter aircraft (MiGs comprising the famed No 10 squadron has been removed from active service) on 20 December 2021 to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Moratuwa (UOM), Senior Professor Niranjan Gunawardana, to promote the Aeronautical Engineering Degree program.
In addition, a formal Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between the Commander (on behalf of the Air Force) and Vice-Chancellor (on behalf of the University of Moratuwa) to further solidify the long standing partnership.
On behalf of the Air Force, the official ceremony was also attended by the Director Aeronautical Engineering, Air Vice Marshal Dushyantha Ratnayake, Deputy Director Aeronautical, Engineering Air Commodore Ranjith Senanayake, Deputy Director Engineering, Air Commodore Nihal Jayasinghe as well as the Base Commander SLAF Base Ratmalana Group Captain Asela Jayasekara. On behalf of the University of Moratuwa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Senior Professor Mahanama, Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Senior Professor Nalin Wickramarachchi, Head of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Himan Punchihewa, as well as other academic and non-academic staff including Prof. Ruwan Gopura, Prof. Nirosh Jayaweera and Dr. Saliya Jayasekara and students from the Aeronautical Engineering degree programme attended the event.
During the ceremony, the tremendous assistance rendered by the Sri Lanka Air Force over the years towards the establishment of the Aeronautical Engineering Degree programme at the University was greatly appreciated. The Commander also highlighted that it was an honor to be able to donate a fighter aircraft that provided yeoman service to the nation, to the University to continue to serve the nation by being an invaluable educational aid for aspiring aeronautical engineers of the country. Addressing the event, the Vice-Chancellor (UOM) extended his gratitude to the Commander of the Air Force being the highest rank military officer to visit the University for such an important donation to uplift the aeronautical engineering knowledge of young aviation engineers.
Both parties agreed that they look forward to continuing this partnership between the most sort after premier Engineering University in the country and Sri Lanka’s Guardians of the Skies, the SLAF, for decades to come, especially in the spheres of research and development such as the development of the “Lihiniya” Indigenous UAV System.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake will undertake a four-day state visit to Vietnam on 03 May, Cabinet Spokesman Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said. Since the presidential election, President Dissanayake has so far visited India, China and the UAE.
The 5th annual Sri Lanka-Pakistan Bilateral Defence Dialogue commenced on Monday (April 28) in Islamabad, Pakistan, marking a continued commitment to strengthening defence cooperation between the two nations.
The MoD statement: “The Sri Lankan delegation is led by Defence Secretary Air Vice Marshal (retd.) Sampath Thuyacontha accompanied by Commander of the Navy, Vice Admiral Kanchana Banagoda, and Additional Secretary (Defence) of the Ministry of Defence Jayantha Edirisinghe. The Pakistani delegation is headed by Lieutenant General (retd.) Muhammad Ali, Secretary Defence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
In conjunction with the on-going defence dialogue, Defence Secretary Thuyacontha held a side-line meeting yesterday (April 29) with Defence Minister of Pakistan, Khawaja Muhammad Asif.
These high-level engagements aim to enhance bilateral cooperation, foster mutual understanding on regional security dynamics and explore opportunities for defence collaboration. Both nations share a longstanding relationship rooted in mutual respect and strategic cooperation. The dialogue reflects the growing importance of partnerships in maintaining stability and promoting peace in the South Asian region.
The three-day dialogue, which concludes today (April 30), is expected to reinforce bilateral defence ties and contribute to broader regional security objectives.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), conducted a two day seminar on disarmament for Sri Lanka Foreign Service Officers on 25 and 26 April, 2025 at the Ministry. The text of the FM statement: “Over 40 officers, based in Colombo, attended the workshop physically while over 60 officers, attached to Sri Lanka Missions abroad, followed the Seminar virtually.
Director of UNIDIR, Dr. Robin Geiss, Senior Researcher at the UNIDIR Security and Technology Programme, Dr. Dongyoun Cho, and Associate of Political Affairs, Ms. Fanny Sebban of UNIDIR, conducted the Seminar as resource personnel. They shared their expertise and perspectives on the global disarmament landscape and evolving threats to international peace and security, etc.
Director of UNIDIR, Dr. Robin Geiss, called on Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, Vijitha Herath and discussed closer cooperation between the Ministry and UNIDIR.
The Human Resource Development, Research & Training Division and the United Nations and Human Rights Division of the Ministry organised the Seminar initiated by the Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva.”
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