SLAF Station Diyatalawa Inter unit rugby Champs

The SLAF Station Diyatalawa narrowly edged out SLAF Base Ratmalana in a keenly contested game game of rugby in their inter unit rugby championship on Monday at Ratmalana. The boys from Diyatalawa went forward in the early stage of the first half when Winger, Officer Cadet RJM Goonatilleke crossed the line for an unconverted try.

The game was one of missed opportunities in both penalties and tries for both teams. During the Semi Final stage SLAF Diyatalawa beat SLAF Regiment Katunayaka by 16-5 and SLAF Base Ratmalana beat SLAF Academy China Bay 12-08 to enter the finals.

The highlight of the finals was history being repeated, when young Officer Cadet RJM Goonetilleke was introduced to the Chief Guest, his father, Acting Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Air Force, Air Chief Marshall Roshan Goonatilleke by the Captain of SLAF Station Diyatalawa on this day.

Thirty one years ago in 1979, at Katunayake, at an Inter Unit Rugby final between Base Katunayake and the SLAF Academy China Bay, Officer Cadet WDRMJ Goonetilleke (the present Commander) was introduced to the then Commander Air Vice Marshall Harry Goonetilleke. History indeed repeats its-self in more than one way.