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Udeni new SLAF Chief of Staff
Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa has been appointed Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force.Born in Colombo in Western Province in 1969, Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa is a past pupil of Bandaranayake College, Gampaha and Ananda College, Colombo. He joined the Kotelawala Defence Academy, Ratmalana as an Officer Cadet on 06 October 1988 in the 6th Officer Cadets’ Intake. Having undergone his Basic Combat Training at the Kotelawala Defence Academy, Basic Flying Training at No. 1 Flying Training Wing, Sri Lanka Air Force Base Anuradhapura and having performed with distinction, he became the Best Flight Cadet in the 33rd Flight Cadets’ course. Then he proceeded to No. 2 Squadron, Sri Lanka Air Force Base Ratmalana for advance flying training. He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilots Branch on 05 October 1990 as a graduate of the Kothelawala Defence Academy, Ratmalana.
Air Vice Marshal Rajapaksa is a VVIP Captain Pilot and qualified in flying 10 types of aircraft; CESSNA–150, HARBIN Y-12, HS–748, SF–260TP, IA–58 PUCARA, B–200T, AN–32 and C–130. He has accumulated over 7000 flying hours to his credit in combat and transport flying and he holds the highest Instrument Rating; Master Green Rating and holds a civil ATPL (Air Transport Pilots License). He was elevated to his present rank on 01 April 2020.
Before being appointed as the Commanding Officer, No. 02 Squadron, SLAF Base Ratmalana in 2010; he did a tenure as Directing Staff (Air), Defence Services Command and Staff College, Batalanda from 2007 to 2009. Thereafter, he commanded SLAF Base Hingurakgoda from 2011 to 2012. Air Vice Marshal Rajapaksa attained a notable feat in his career when he was entrusted with the prestigious appointment of the Sri Lankan Defence Attaché to Sri Lanka Embassy in Russian Federation from 2012 to 2014. Upon completion of his tenure in Russia, he was appointed as Senior Air Staff Officer (SASO) from 21 April 2014 before being appointed as the Base Commander of Sri Lanka Air Force Base Vavuniya from 01 September 2015. Further, He was assigned as Air Secretary from 12 September 2016 to 23 August 2017 and from 07 August 2018 to 30 June 2019.
Air Vice Marshal Rajapaksa commanded SLAF Academy, China Bay as the Commandant in 2020 and was appointed as Eastern Air Commander. Then he embraced the responsibilities as the Base Commander SLAF Base Katunayake, Southern Air Commander and Overall Operations Commander (Air Defence) during his tenure at SLAF Base Katunayake. At present, he holds the appointment of Director Air Operations with effect from 18 March 2022.
He executed a night ejection from Pucara aircraft in 1997, whilst on an operational bombing mission at night and he has been commended for the great achievement of handling a serious emergency situation whilst on a combat mission. He also has been recognised by the Martin Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd. by offering him the membership of the world renounced “Ejection Tie Club”.
He has followed a number of overseas training courses including Junior Command and Staff Course in Bangladesh, Flight Safety Officers Course in Pakistan and Advanced Security Cooperation Course in USA. Further, Air Vice Marshal Rajapaksa has also made many academic achievements by completing his Bachelor’s Degree in Defence Studies and Master of Science in Defence Studies in Management from Sir John Kotelawala Defence University with a “Merit pass”.
He has obtained Master of Science (Mil Op Art) by the Air University, Alabama in USA and further, MA in International Security and Strategy from King’s College, London in UK too with a “Merit pass”. He has attended a number of conferences and visits in Pakistan and Russia representing the SLAF.
He is a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, Air University, Alabama, USA and a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies (rcds), UK in International Security and Strategic Leadership Studies. For his bravery he has been awarded with the Rana Sura Paddakkama three times.
In addition, Air Vice Marshal Rajapaksa holds the appointment of Chairman of Sri Lanka Air Force Athletic Association and he has been awarded Sri Lanka Air Force Colours for Tennis in 2010 and he is the only SLAF Officer who has won Commander’s Cup Eagles’ Challenge trophy (in 2021). He also has been awarded SLAF Colours for Golf in 2021. He is married to Enoka and blessed with a daughter and a son; Miyuni and Inura.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
