VIDEO: New Air Force Chief assumes duties
February 28, 2011 10:37 am
Air Marshall Harsha Abeywickrema formally assumed duties as the 13th Air Force Commander a short while ago. Abeywickrama was enlisted to the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot branch on 19 April, 1980.
Air Marshal Harsha Duminda Abeywickrama completed his education at Royal College, Colombo and enlisted to the Sri Lanka Air Force as an Officer Cadet in the General Duties Pilot branch on 19 April 1980. On successful completion of training he was commissioned in the rank of Pilot Officer on 3 April 1982. During his illustrious career of 30 years, he held instructional, operational, planning, command & combatant command appointments including Commanding Officer of the first Fighter Squadron, Commanding Officer of Sri Lanka Air Force Palaly, Commandant Flying Training Wing, Base Commander of China Bay, Anuradhapura & Rathmalana Bases, Zonal Commander East and Chief Instructor of Air Wing of the Defence Services Command & Staff College. At the Air Force Headquarters; Air Marshal Abeywickrama served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Director Air Operations and overlooked the duties as the Director Logistics.
Some of the notable achievements of his career were; the formation of the First
Supersonic Fighter Squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Air Wing of the
Defence Services Command & Staff College. He has had the privilege of being
one of the first pilots of the Sri Lanka Air Force to gain competency to pilot
the ‘F-7’ and ‘Kfir’ jets which were inducted to the Sri Lanka Air Force in
1991 and 1996 respectively. Further, during his tenure as the Director Air
Operations he was instrumental in the revolutionary development of the combat
capability of the Sri Lanka Air Force and was the driving force behind the many
successful air operations during the Humanitarian Operations which ultimately
ended the three decade long terrorist conflict.
Air Marshal Abeywickrama received the ‘Rana Wickrama Padakkama’ and the ‘Rana
Sura Padakkama’ for acts of bravery during flying missions in the North-East
conflict zones, and the ‘Utthama Seva Padakkama’ as recognition to devotion to
duty, merit and exemplary conduct.
Air Marshal Abeywickrama is a graduate of the Air Command & Staff College,
Air University, Alabama, USA. He earned a Master’s Degree in
International Studies from Kings College, University of London, and a Master’s
Degree in Management from the General Sir John Kotalawala Defence University in
Sri Lanka. He also attended the Royal College of Defence Studies in London,
United Kingdom. In addition, he holds a Commercial Pilot’s License with
an Instrument Rating and is an A - 2 Qualified Flying Instructor.
Air Marshal Abeywickrama practices a personnel leadership philosophy based on
Buddhism. His interests include Music, Philosophy and Golf.
He is married to Neelika an Attorney-at-Law by profession and they are blessed
with one son, Kasun who is an Undergraduate.