‘Protecting peace, a prime duty of the Air Force’

Text of speech for the Passing Out of the 53rd Intake - Sri Lanka Air Force, delivered by Defence and Urban Development Ministry Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, on August 4.

From today, all 84 cadets and 386 other recruits will become members of one of the finest Air Forces in the world. I know that the training you have undergone is a very intensive and strenuous one, and I congratulate you for having completed it. I also take this opportunity to recognise the hard work of the Commandant and Training Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, in bringing these cadets and recruits to the standard they have achieved today.

The proud parents of the young officers and recruits passing out today deserve particular congratulations. Your children are amongst the best of their generation, and you should be justly proud of what they have achieved. I must make special mention that the son of the former Air Force Commander and present Chief of Defence Staff, Roshan Goonatilleke, is one of the cadets passing out today. He is making history as a third generation officer, whose father and grandfather were both Air Force Commanders. This exemplifies the spirit of service and dedication that all of you have towards our nation.

All the parents of the officers and other recruits deserve many thanks for allowing and encouraging their children to join the Armed Services. I am sure that they will make you more and more proud as they advance in their careers.

Greater opportunity

I know that today is a very special day for all of the new officers and recruits who are passing out. I think it is appropriate at this time that you take a moment to reflect on the accomplishments of your predecessors at the Sri Lanka Air Force. During the period of the war, the personnel of the Air Force engaged one of the deadliest and most ruthless terrorist organisations in the world. Several brave officers and other ranks who graduated from this Academy before you sacrificed their lives to achieve peace for this nation. All those who participated in the war worked incredibly hard and underwent many hardships to achieve the defeat of terrorism.

The environment today, as you graduate, is completely different. The country is at peace, and the demands that are made of servicemen are of a different nature. You have greater opportunity to concentrate on your training, and build up the skills and knowledge you require to further develop the professionalism and excellence of the Air Force.

Development work

The challenge before you today is to become more efficient and more modern in your functioning. In the modern world, a modern military is a knowledge-based force. The application of science and technology and information technology has become an integral part of defence preparedness and the conduct of warfare.

This means that we need well-educated and well-trained servicemen. It also means that our officers have to be even better educated and better trained. High quality training, good quality equipment and the ability to strategize are essential to the success of our Armed Forces. The environment in this country today lends itself to this, and you should take full advantage. It is also important to remember that you are joining an establishment that is youthful, well organised, and trained to carry weapons. You have a great responsibility to perform your duties with dedication and loyalty. The integrity, dedication for service and commitment to excellence that you foster during your career will define you.

The officers in particular must remember that the commands you issue to your subordinates will not only determine their tasks but also impact their lives. You must therefore be very careful to give the correct orders at all times.

All of you must also understand that with the end of the war, the responsibilities that will be vested with the Armed Services may go beyond what is customary. Because of the skills and knowledge imparted to you during your training, and the professionalism that you will develop during your service in the Air Force, you will be able to undertake different types of roles and responsibilities. Not long after the war, the President appointed some of the Flag Rank Officers who were at the war front as Ambassadors and Deputy Ambassadors in different countries around the world. Many Officers were also posted as Defence Attaches to important embassies. In these various capacities, they have all brought a great deal of credit to their respective Forces, and have done a great service to their country. Similarly, there are other fields in which Service personnel have had the opportunity to display their dedication, adaptability and professionalism in serving the country.

Different demands

Officers from all three services have become involved in undertaking development work. The quality of their work and their performance of duties in a professional and timely manner has greatly impressed everyone they have worked with. In fact, more and more authorities and agencies are requesting the secondment of military officers to their organisations. They wish to have the assistance of these officers in executing their tasks, because they know that the military can deliver high quality results.

Many officers have therefore become involved in diverse fields that most people would not have thought likely even a few years ago. For example, the entire management of the newly built Mahinda Rajapaksa Nelum Pokuna Performing Arts Theatre comprises officers from the three Services.

To be continued