COLOMBO (News 1st) – President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, the Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces granted approval to appoint Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa as the Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Air Force, with effect from 12 September 2022.Accordingly, Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana, officially handed over the letter of appointment to Air Vice Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa today.Air Vice Marshal RAUP Rajapaksa RSP and two Bars, USP, MSc (MOA) USA, MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MA in IS&S (UK), BSc (Def Stu), MIM (SL), rcds, psc joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot Branch in 1988.
Having undergone his Basic Combat Training at 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.
He was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilots Branch in 1990 as a graduate of the Kotelawala Defence Academy, Ratmalana.
Since then, in the capacity of operational scale, he took part in almost every major operation conducted during the terrorist conflict in the Island.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.