Official logo launched

Air Force 60th anniversary celebrations:

The Air Force gave its fullest support to end terrorism by assisting the Army and Navy as well as providing relief for civilians, Chief of Defence Staff and Air Force Commander Air Chief Marshal Roshan Goonetilleke said.

“We worked as a team for this cause,” the Commander said at a press conference to mark the Sri Lanka Air Force’s 60th anniversary celebrations at the SLAF Headquarters Auditorium yesterday.

A highlight at the event was the unveiling of the official logo for the 60th anniversary by the Air Force Commander.

The logo symbolizes the journey of excellence in aviation of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The official logo will be carried on a specially designed float during the annual Guwan Hamuda Papedi Savariya.

It will be the symbol under which all commemoration activities will be conducted for the 60th Anniversary commencing this evening.

After the cycling event, the logo will be carried from Colombo to Buttala on a specially designed float for the Deyata Kirula exhibition where it will be on display. This logo was constructed by Squadron Leader Surendra Munasinghe, whilst the aircraft models on it were manufactured by the SLAF Model Aircraft workshop at SLAF Station Ekala.

The Air Force celebrates its 60th anniversary on March 2, 2011.

The Commander also emphasized the progress of the Air Force, making special mention of the Humanitarian Operations of 2006 as a defining moment in the history of the organization.

The Air Force which began as Royal Ceylon Air Force in 1951 has grown not only in strength and capability but also in number. Back then it had a staff of 1,200 and not more than 10 aircraft.

Today, after successive triumphs as the guardian of skies, it boasts of more than 35,000 personnel of which 1,400 alone are officers. Its fleet too has expanded with time and in its inventory today are more than 110 aircraft, with four attack squadrons and three transport squadrons.