Death of former Air Force Commander Harry Goonetileke
Ramani Kangaraarchchi
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Harry Goonetileke |
COLOMBO: Air Chief Marshal W.D. Harry Goonetileke ndc, psc, who was
the fifth Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force expired on Thursday
night. He was the Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force from November 1, 1976
to April 30, 1981.
He was the President of Ex-Servicemen’s Association from 2000-2002
and rendered a yeomon service at the Ranaviru Family Counseling Service,
a project under the Association of Retired Flag Rank Officers.
Educated at Royal College, Colombo Goonetileke joined the Air Force
as a Flight Cadet in 1951 in the first batch of locally trained
recruits.
He received his flight training in the Chipmunk and Balliol aircraft
and earning his Wings in 1954, and 4 years later in 1958 was promoted to
Squadron Leader. He was one of the members of a team that flew to UK and
back ferrying the RCyAF’s new de Havilland Heron aircraft to Ceylon.
His commands included Commanding Officer No. 2 Squadron and
Commanding Officer of China Bay, with responsibility for the Cadet
training there.
In 1962 he became Station Commander and after further training at
Staff College, Wellington he was appointed Director of Operations with
responsibility for all flying and ground operations in the Force.
Harry Goonetileke saw action during the 1971 insurrection. He also
began the archival process that led in later years to the formation of
the SLAF Museum and contributed greatly to SLAF sports, particularly
Rugby Football.
In 2007 he was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal along with
nine other former Service Chiefs. In 1955 he married Marian Perera and
had two sons and two daughters.
Both his sons joined the SLAF, his eldest son Air Marshal Roshan
Goonetileke is the current Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force, his
younger son Air Commodore Shirantha Goonetileke RWP, RSP, SLAF was
killed in 1995 when the plane he was piloting was shot down by a SAM.
He was an exemplary military leader and a true patriot in Sri Lanka.
His funeral will take place at Borella Cemetery at 2.00 p.m. today. |
