Sri Lanka Air Force Women's Wing

Last updated
Sri Lanka Air Force Women's Wing
Active1983–present
CountryFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
AllegianceFlag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
BranchAir Force Ensign of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka Air Force
Engagements Sri Lankan civil war

The Sri Lanka Air Force Women's Wing (SLAF Women's Wing) is the women's branch of the Sri Lanka Air Force, it was formed in 1983 [1] which consists of the female members of the Sri Lanka Air Force, both airwomen [2] and lady officers. [2] Only unmarried women can join. [1] Women were first admitted to the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1972 when female officers joined the Volunteer Air Force. [3] [4] Initially, women could not become pilots. [5] However, in 1998 women were recruited to train for the elite pilots' wing to replace losses to the Tamil Tigers in their insurgency. 800 women applied for the 33 available places to fly transport planes. [6]

Officers Commanding of SLAF Women's Wing include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sri Lanka Air Force</span> Air warfare branch of Sri Lankas military forces

The Sri Lanka Air Force is the air arm and the youngest of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces. It was founded in 1951 as the Royal Ceylon Air Force (RCyAF) with the assistance of the Royal Air Force (RAF). The SLAF played a major role throughout the Sri Lankan Civil War. The SLAF operates more than 160 aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regiment Special Force</span> Military unit

The Regiment Special Force (RSF) is a Sri Lanka Air Forces elite special force unit, which is part of the SLAF Regiment. It was raised in 2006.The RSF Wing is an independent formation of the SLAF and commanded by a Commanding Officer who is responsible to the Commander of the Air Force through Director Ground Operations for the efficient and effective function.

Marshal of the Air Force W. D. M. J. Roshan Goonetileke, RWP and bar, VSV, USP is a Sri Lankan senior air force officer. He was a former Governor of the Western Province of Sri Lanka.

Air Commodore Shirantha Goonetileke RWP, RSP, SLAF was a Sri Lankan aviator and the most senior Air Force officer to be killed in action. He was the youngest son of Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonatilake the 5th Commander of the Air Force and the brother of the 12th Commander of the Air Force, Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke.

Air Chief Marshal G Donald Perera VSV, USP is a Sri Lanka air officer who served as commander of the Air Force from 2002 to 2006 and Chief of the Defence Staff from 2006 to 2009. He served as Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Israel.

The Air Force Academy (AFA) is the Sri Lanka Air Force's training and education academy which provides initial training to all SLAF personnel who are preparing to be commissioned officers. AFA also provides initial training to Officer Cadets of the general duties pilot branch. The Air Force Academy is based at SLAF China Bay in Trincomalee. The Commandant of the academy is an officer of the rank of Air Commodore.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 10 Squadron SLAF</span> Military unit

No. 10 "Fighter" Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates the IAI Kfir from SLAF Katunayake. The squadron is tasked with providing offensive support for ground & maritime (anti-shipping) operations, air interdiction and interception. It specializes in high altitude precision ground attacks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 14 Squadron SLAF</span> Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force

No. 14 Squadron was a training squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It operated the Hongdu JL-8 from SLAF China Bay for advanced flying training. The training at the squadron can be divided into two sections. They are Advance Flying Training and Fighter Conversion Training. The flying cadets who complete the Advance Flying Training chosen in to three main streams of flying in the SLAF. The flying cadets who are chosen in to the fighter jet have to remain further at the squadron to follow the fighter conversion training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 1 Wing SLAF</span> Military unit

No. 1 Flying Training Wing currently based at SLAF China Bay, carries out basic pilot training of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It is the oldest flying formation in the SLAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harsha Abeywickrama</span> Sri Lankan air force commander

Air Chief Marshal Harsha Abeywickrema, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, rcds, psc, qfi is a senior Sri Lankan air force officer and fighter pilot, who served as the Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force from 2012 to 2014 and later went on to serve as the Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon.

Air Chief Marshal Dick Cuthbert Perera VSV was the 6th Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force.

Air Chief Marshal Andibuduge Walter Fernando, VSV, ndc, psc was a senior Sri Lanka Air Force officer, who served as the 7th Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force and thereafter Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Defence.

Air Chief Marshal Makalandage Johnny Terrence "Terry" De Silva Gunawardena, VSV (-2014) was the 8th Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force.

Air Chief Marshal Oliver Matthew Ranasinghe, RWP, VSV, USP, ndc, psc was the 9th Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sumangala Dias</span> Former Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force

Air Chief Marshal Dambure Liyanage Sumangala Dias, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP is a retired Sri Lanka Air Force officer and pilot who served as Commander of the Air Force from 29 May 2019 to 2 November 2020. He retired from his position as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on 2 November 2020 and was replaced by Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.

No. 49 Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear and Explosive Wing was established in 2016 at the SLAF Bandaranayake. The unit's first Commanding Officer was Squadron Leader Nilendra Perera, who continues to hold this office. The wing is equipped with modern equipment required to counter chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and high yield explosive threats.

Air Chief Marshal Sudarshana Karagoda Pathirana WWV, RSP & four Bars, VSV, USP is a former senior Sri Lanka Air Force officer, who had served as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Air Marshal R. A. Udeni P. Rajapaksa RSP & two Bars, VSV, USP is a senior Sri Lanka Air Force officer and pilot currently serving as Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force since June 2023. Previously, he served as Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, Director Air Operations, Base Commander SLAF Katunayake and Commandant of the Air Force Academy China Bay.

References

  1. 1 2 "Women's Wing". airforce.lk. Archived from the original on 8 August 2009.
  2. 1 2 "SLAF holds passing out parade at China Bay". dailynews.lk. 14 January 2019.
  3. ↑ "Life in the Air force; A chat with one of the first women to join the SLAF". dailymirror.lk. 30 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "Air Force to increase women wing to 30 percent – AF Commander". CeylonToday. 1 July 2023. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023.
  5. ↑ Raj K. Mehta, Lost Victory: The Rise & Fall of LTTE Supremo, V. Prabhakaran, p. 135, Pentagon Press, 2010 ISBN   9788182744431.
  6. ↑ Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada, "Sri Lanka: Organization and structure of the Sri Lankan Airforce including ranks, units, squadrons and the duties assigned to different personnel; location of squadrons and departments", UNHCR Refworld, Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, 14 March 2001.
  7. 1 2 "2002 Sri Lanka Air Force Annual Performance Report" (PDF). Parliament of Sri Lanka. p. 6.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.