Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 25 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), attended a reception held to commemorate the 96th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia at the ITC Ratnadipa Hotel in Colombo last evening (24 September). The reception was organized by the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Sri Lanka. The Defence Secretary was received by the Charge d'Affaires of th...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 24 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The Deputy Minister of Defence, Major General Aruna Jayasekara (Retd), and the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), attended the 77th Anniversary Celebration of the Founding of the People's Republic of China, held at the Shangri-La Hotel in Colombo yesterday evening (23 September). The event was hosted by the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Sri La...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 24 -- Sri Lanka Air Force issued the following news release: The No. 7 Helicopter Squadron, based at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda, proudly celebrated its 32nd Anniversary on 23 September 2026, marking over three decades of dedicated and distinguished service to the nation. The Squadron was initially established as No. 401 Squadron on 23 September 1994, operating Bell 212 and Bell 206 helicopters, and was subsequently re-designated as No. 7 Helicopter Squadron on 23 March 199...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 24 -- Sri Lanka Air Force issued the following news release: The Closing Address of the No. 174-A Intake Fire Fighter Basic Trade Training Course (01/2026) was held on 24 September 2026 at the Fire School & Fire Tender Maintenance Squadron (FS&FTMS), Sri Lanka Air Force Base Katunayake, with Staff Officer Air Traffic Services, Directorate of Air Operations, Group Captain DLJRK Dodamgoda, gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest. The training programme was conducted wit...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 24 -- Sri Lanka Air Force issued the following news release: The Inter-Unit Badminton Championship 2026 was held from 21 to 23 September 2026 at the Health Management Centre (HMC), Thummulla. The final matches and the awards ceremony took place at the same venue on 23 September 2026, with the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, gracing the occasion as the Chief Guest. SLAF Base Katunayake emerged as the Champions, while SLAF Tech Formation Katun...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 23 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: Ms Sarah Storey, the First Assistant Secretary of the South and Central Asia Division at the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, met the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Ministry of Defence today (23 September). During the cordial meeting, the Defence Secretary and Ms Storey exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, with particu...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 23 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka, Mr. Marc-Andre Franche, met the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Ministry of Defence today (23 September). During the meeting, the two sides discussed the United Nations' support for Sri Lanka's emergency response and early recovery efforts following Cyclone Ditwah, including assistance provided ...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 23 -- Sri Lanka Air Force issued the following news release: The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) has successfully concluded the latest helicopter rotation in support of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), further strengthening its sustained aviation contribution to UN peacekeeping operations. As part of the rotation, SLAF Mi-17 helicopter SMH 695 was dispatched from Sri Lanka to the Sri Lanka Aviat...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 22 -- Sri Lanka Air Force issued the following news release: A house constructed under the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit was handed over to the family of Sergeant Danasena HMRP (Cons. Tech) yesterday (21 September 2026) and the housewarming ceremony was held at Karawila Road - Badalkumbura. The Chairperson of the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, Mrs. Krishanthi Edirisinghe, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. The project was fully funded by the SLAF Seva Vanitha Unit, while const...
Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sept. 22 -- Ministry of Defence and Urban Development issued the following news release: The newly appointed Vice Chancellor of the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University (KDU), Air Vice Marshal Indika Wickramasinghe, paid a courtesy call on the Defence Secretary, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha (Retd), at the Ministry of Defence today (22 September). During the meeting, the Defence Secretary and the Vice Chancellor exchanged views on matters of mutual interest...