Civil aviation centenary celebrations on December 7

Ridma Dissanayake

Sri Lanka civil aviation sector will mark its 100th anniversary on December 7, 2012.

Celebrations of this event will be held under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Civil Aviation Minister Priyankara Jayaratne and Deputy Minister Geethanjana Gunawardena at Temple Trees.

The first aeroplane performed its first successful flight at the Race Course Grounds in Colombo on December 7, 1912.

It was made by two Frenchmen George Verminie and Marc Poorp, who arrived in Sri Lanka on a ship. The Civil Aviation Ministry will issue four postage stamps along with institutions affiliated to the civil aviation sector.

A book authored by Captain Elmo Jayawardena to mark Sri Lanka's centenary of aviation will also to be launched at this ceremony.

Arrangements are also in place to hold a prize giving ceremony to distribute prizes among winners in the art competition held under the theme Conquering the Blue Sky (Nil Ahasa Jayaganimu).

The art competition was held under six age categories and 15 selected students from each category will receive certificates.