NEW AIR FORCE COMMANDER CALLS ON CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF
Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala who assumed Command as the fifteenth (15th) Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force on 16 June 2015 paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, this morning (07 July 2015). Air Chief Marshal Gunatilleke extending a warm welcome engaged in a cordial discussion with Air Marshal Bulathsinghala.\r\n\r\nAir Marshal Bulathsinghala joined the SLAF in 1981 as an Officer Cadet of the 9th Intake and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch on 8th April 1983. Air Marshal Bulathsinghala is an Old Nalandian who graduated from the Air Command & Staff College at Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, USA and the prestigious National Defence College, New Delhi. He also holds Post graduate degrees of Master in Philosophy in Defence and Strategic Studies, University of Madras, Chennai, and a Master of Science Degree in Defence Studies in Management from Kothalawala Defence University, Sri Lanka.\r\n\r\nAir Marshal Bulathsinghala was the founding Commanding Officer of the No. 6 Helicopter Squadron. He is a VVIP rated pilot with over 4500 flying hours and has had the honour of flying four heads of Sri Lanka during his tenure at the No. 4 Squadron.\r\n\r\nAfter serving in various staff appointments at Air Force Headquarters during his career, he was appointed to the Air Force Board of Management as the Director Air Operations in year 2011 and thereafter as the Director Operations in year 2012. He was subsequently appointed as the Chief of Staff in year 2014.\r\n\r\nAir Marshal Bulathsinghala is a decorated helicopter pilot. His gallant and selfless contribution during the separatist conflict has earned him the prestigious \"Rana Wickrama Padakkama\" and the \"Rana Sura Padakkama\". In recognition of his distinguished and exemplary service to the nation he has been awarded the \"Uttama Seva Padakkama\" in addition to the campaign and operational medals.\r\n\r\nAir Marshal Bulathsinghala presented a memento to mark the occasion to the Chief of Defence Staff.
