Air Force commissions its first female pilots

Pilot Officer RT Weerawardana receiving the Group Captain CR Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy for the Best Officer Cadet in General Duties Pilot Branch (13 Lady Officer Cadets Intake) yesterday from Defence Secretary Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne. Weerawardana along with Pilot Officer ADPL Gunarathne became the first female officers commissioned as pilots by the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Two female Sri Lanka Air Force officers were commissioned as pilots for the first time in the history of the SLAF yesterday at the Commissioning and Wings Parade at the SLAF Academy in China Bay.

Chief Guest at the event was the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Major General (Retd) Kamal Gunaratne. He was invited by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.

Yesterday’s event was also the first time in the SLAF history that a female officer commanded a parade with the President’s Colour. Pilot Officer RT Weerawardana made history by being the first female officer to do so when she took over the parade as the new Parade Commander.

At the awarding of Flying Brevets and trophies for special achievements, Weerawardana along with Pilot Officer A.D.P.L. Gunaratne became the first female officers to be awarded the prestigious Flying Brevet and be the pioneering female military aviators of Sri Lanka.

Pilot Officer R.T. Weerawardana created history yet again when she was awarded the prestigious “Sword of Honour” presented by Group Captain N.R. Raheem.

The Sword of Honour is awarded to the Officer Cadet who has scored the highest results in both academic and professional studies and who has shown the best all-round performance throughout the course. This is the first occasion in the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force when a female officer has been awarded the “Sword of Honour”.

Special Award Winners:

Pilot Officer R.T. Weerawardana – Group Captain CR Weerasinghe Memorial Trophy for the Best Officer Cadet in General Duties Pilot Branch (13 Lady Officer Cadets Intake)

Pilot Officer H.A.Y.S. Hewavitharana – Group Captain D.S. Wickramasinghe Memorial Trophy for the Best Officer Cadet in Technical Engineering Branch (61st Officer Cadets Intake)

Pilot Officer D.A.O.S. Gunaratne – Squadron Leader DSP Mendis Memorial Trophy for the Best Officer Cadet in Electronic Engineering Branch (61st Officer Cadets Intake)

Pilot Officer L.D.G.N. Fernando – Wing Commander H.P. Karunarathne Memorial Trophy for the Best Officer Cadet in Logistics Branch (13 Lady Officer Cadets Intake)

Pilot Officer H.G.G.P. Gajanayake – Flight Lieutenant S.V.S. Fernando Memorial Trophy for the Best Officer Cadet in Administrative Branch and Group Captain N.R. Raheem Trophy for the Best Lady Officer Cadet of the 13th Lady Officer Cadets Intake.