AIR VICE MARSHAL RAJINTH JAYAWARDENA BIDS ADIEU TO THE SRI LANKA AIR FORCE
Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena, USP, CQHRM, MSc (Def Stu) in Mgt, MDS, MSSD, BA (Def Stu), ndc (Ban), psc, bid adieu to the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) today (27 September 2026), upon completion of 34 years of dedicated service to the nation. At the time of his retirement, he served as the Director General Welfare of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
Prior to his retirement, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, at Air Force Headquarters. During the meeting, the Commander commended Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena for his distinguished and dedicated service to the nation and the Sri Lanka Air Force throughout a career spanning more than three decades. The Commander and Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena exchanged mementos to mark the occasion.
Subsequently, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before departing Air Force Headquarters for the final time in uniform.
In recognition of his outstanding service to the nation and the Sri Lanka Air Force, a Farewell Dinner was hosted in his honour at the Air Force Headquarters Officers’ Mess, Colombo. The occasion was graced by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, members of the Air Force Board of Management and other distinguished guests.
Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena joined the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy as an Officer Cadet in November 1992 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Administrative Branch of the Sri Lanka Air Force in December 1994, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Defence Studies.
Throughout his career, he pursued extensive professional and academic development. He completed the Junior Command and Staff Course in Sri Lanka and Coimbatore, India, in 2004, followed by the Passed Staff College (psc) at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda, in 2010. He subsequently obtained a Master of Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya and a Master of Science in Defence Studies in Management from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. In 2022, he successfully completed the National Defence College (ndc) course at the prestigious National Defence College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and obtained a Master of Social Science in Security and Development from Bangladesh University of Professionals.
Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena held numerous key appointments throughout his distinguished career in the Sri Lanka Air Force, encompassing command, training and staff responsibilities. Notably, he served as the Officer Commanding Personnel Services at three major Air Bases, namely SLAF Academy China Bay, SLAF Base Vavuniya and SLAF Base Anuradhapura. He also served as Directing Staff (Admin) and Senior Instructor at the Junior Command and Staff College, SLAF Academy China Bay, and as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda.
At Air Force Headquarters, he held several important appointments, including Staff Officer Administration and Acting Air Secretary to the Commander of the Air Force. He subsequently served as the Commanding Officer of SLAF Station Weerawila and later as the Commanding Officer (Volunteer) at Air Force Headquarters. His leadership capabilities were further demonstrated through his appointments as Director Personnel Administration and Commanding Officer of the Women’s Wing.
Further, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena served as the Rector of the Metropolitan Campus at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He later assumed the appointments of Acting Base Commander, SLAF Base Katunayake, and Provost Marshal.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena represented the Sri Lanka Air Force in golf, tennis and squash, both as a player and in an official capacity. He presently served as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Air Force Handball Team.
In recognition of his distinguished and dedicated service to the nation, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena was awarded the Uththama Seva Padakkama (USP).
Prior to his retirement, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena made an official farewell call on the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, at Air Force Headquarters. During the meeting, the Commander commended Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena for his distinguished and dedicated service to the nation and the Sri Lanka Air Force throughout a career spanning more than three decades. The Commander and Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena exchanged mementos to mark the occasion.
Subsequently, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena was accorded a Ceremonial Guard of Honour by the SLAF Colour Wing before departing Air Force Headquarters for the final time in uniform.
In recognition of his outstanding service to the nation and the Sri Lanka Air Force, a Farewell Dinner was hosted in his honour at the Air Force Headquarters Officers’ Mess, Colombo. The occasion was graced by the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Bandu Edirisinghe, members of the Air Force Board of Management and other distinguished guests.
Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena joined the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence Academy as an Officer Cadet in November 1992 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the Administrative Branch of the Sri Lanka Air Force in December 1994, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Defence Studies.
Throughout his career, he pursued extensive professional and academic development. He completed the Junior Command and Staff Course in Sri Lanka and Coimbatore, India, in 2004, followed by the Passed Staff College (psc) at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda, in 2010. He subsequently obtained a Master of Defence Studies from the University of Kelaniya and a Master of Science in Defence Studies in Management from General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. In 2022, he successfully completed the National Defence College (ndc) course at the prestigious National Defence College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, and obtained a Master of Social Science in Security and Development from Bangladesh University of Professionals.
Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena held numerous key appointments throughout his distinguished career in the Sri Lanka Air Force, encompassing command, training and staff responsibilities. Notably, he served as the Officer Commanding Personnel Services at three major Air Bases, namely SLAF Academy China Bay, SLAF Base Vavuniya and SLAF Base Anuradhapura. He also served as Directing Staff (Admin) and Senior Instructor at the Junior Command and Staff College, SLAF Academy China Bay, and as Directing Staff at the Defence Services Command and Staff College, Sapugaskanda.
At Air Force Headquarters, he held several important appointments, including Staff Officer Administration and Acting Air Secretary to the Commander of the Air Force. He subsequently served as the Commanding Officer of SLAF Station Weerawila and later as the Commanding Officer (Volunteer) at Air Force Headquarters. His leadership capabilities were further demonstrated through his appointments as Director Personnel Administration and Commanding Officer of the Women’s Wing.
Further, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena served as the Rector of the Metropolitan Campus at General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. He later assumed the appointments of Acting Base Commander, SLAF Base Katunayake, and Provost Marshal.
Beyond his professional responsibilities, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena represented the Sri Lanka Air Force in golf, tennis and squash, both as a player and in an official capacity. He presently served as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Air Force Handball Team.
In recognition of his distinguished and dedicated service to the nation, Air Vice Marshal Rajinth Jayawardena was awarded the Uththama Seva Padakkama (USP).
Farewell call on
Guard of honour
Dining out
