His Excellency the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka urged those starting their careers in the Sri Lanka Air Force to give their best to the nation and assured them that he and the state would do their part to empower them, when he addressed the Commissioning and Passing Out Parade at the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy on Monday.  

He was the Chief Guest when 46 Officers from the No 55th Intake of Officer Cadets and No 7th Lady Officer Cadets Intake along with 598 Airmen and Airwomen of the 161st   Regular Airmen Recruit Course and No 31st Regular Airwomen  Recruit Course passed out from the SLAF Academy China Bay during the morning hours of 19 October 2015. Also on this occasion 08 Pilot Officers of No.83 flight cadet course received their Flying Brevets from the His Excellency the President Maithripala Sirisena. The Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala, the Board of Management of the SLAF, Commandant of the SLAF Academy China Bay Air Commodore Sagara Kotakadeniya and senior officers of the SL Army, SL Navy, and SL Police of Trincomalee District also attended the event. The Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala received the Chief Guest on arrival.

The Officer Cadets/Lady Officer Cadets have successfully completed 3 years of rigorous training while the Airmen/Airwomen followed a 20 week Basic Combat Training programme. The Parade, which was commanded by the Commanding Officer of Ground Training Wing, Wing Commander HTH Dharmadasa, was followed by an Aerobatic display of PT6 Aircraft, flown by Qualified Flying Instructors (QFIs) of No.1 Flying Training Wing, Commanded by Wg Cdr Asela Jayasekara. This was followed by a Band display, Drill display by SLAF Colour Wing, Unarmed Combat display, Parachute display, and a Camp Attack Display.

The award winners

No. 55th Intake Officer Cadets’ and 07th Lady Officer Cadets'  course

The Winner of Sword of Honour 
Pilot Officer WRSLM Wijeratne

Best Officer Cadet of no 55th  Officer Cadets Intake
Pilot Officer HRL Abeyratne

Best Lady Officer Cadet of no 7th Lady Officer Cadets intake
Pilot Officer PRS Rathnaweera

Best Office Cadet in Electrical Eng branch
Pilot Officer PRS Rathnaweera

Best Officer Cadet In Operations Air branch   
Pilot Officer BRTM Bakmeedeniya

Best Officer Cadet of Administrative Regiment branch
Pilot Officer DN Kalupahana

Best Officer Cadet of Administrative branch    
Pilot Officer UJNC Peiris

Best Officer Cadet of Tech Eng branch
Pilot Officer LDDAP De Silva

Best Office Cadet of General Duties of Pilot branch   
Pilot Officer LR Weerasekara

Best Office Cadet of Logistic branch
Pilot Officer WRSLM Wijeratne

No.161st Regular  Airmen Recruit Course

Best All Round Recruit 
TA 32857 AC2UT – Liwliyadda NTS
       
Best Student
TA 33124 AC2UT – Manorathne MAKD

Best in Drill
TA/ 32730 AC2UT – Jayasena  YSN

Best Shot
TA/ 32950 AC2UT-Suriyage PS

Best in Physical Efficiency
TA 32965 AC2UT – Asela KT

Best Marathon
TA 32974 AC2UT - Abeyrathne DPLP

No.31st Regular  Airwomen Recruit Course

Best All Round Recruit and  Best in Physical Efficiency
TW  2334 AC2UT – Sujani AKDD 
     
Best Student
TW  2315 AC2UT – De Silva WHRD

 Best in Drill
TW  2323 AC2UT – Kahangama DN

Best Shot
TW  2270 AC2UT -Nawagamuwa NSD

Best Marathon
TW  2314 AC2UT - Ganegama GWMM