NEW AIR FORCE COMMANDER CALLS ON CHIEF OF DEFENCE STAFF
Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy who assumed Command as the sixteenth (16th) Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force paid a courtesy call on the Chief of Defence Staff Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, on 21 September 2016.\r\n\r\n Air Chief Marshal Gunatilleke extending a warm welcome engaged in a cordial discussion with Air Marshal Jayampathy.\r\n\r\n Air Marshal Jayampathy joined the SLAF in 1982 as an Officer Cadet of the 10th Intake and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General Duties Pilot Branch on 1st April 1985. Air Marshal Jayampathy is an Old Nalandian who graduated from National Defense University (NDU) China earning the distinction of being the first officer of the Sri Lanka Air Force to be nominated for this prestigious course with distinguished colours and a fellowship.\r\n\r\n Air Marshal Jayampathy specialized and mastered helicopter flying and became a Qualified Helicopter Instructor (QHI) with an exceptional A-2 Instructor Grading to his credit. He took active part in the operational commitments at the Northern and Eastern theaters, providing air support to ground troops in ground combat missions.\r\n\r\n In January 2005 he was appointed as the Defense Advisor to the Sri Lankan High Commission in Islamabad, Pakistan, where his contribution towards getting the support of the Pakistan military in the form of military hardware and training to crush the LTTE was an important achievement. After serving in various capacities including staff appointments at Air Force Headquarters during his career, he was appointed to the Air Force Board of Management as the Director Logistics on 5th September 2011 and thereafter as the Director Air Operations on 28 February 2014.\r\n\r\n Air Marshal Jayampathy is a decorated helicopter pilot. His gallant and selfless contribution during the separatist conflict has earned him the prestigious \"Weera Wickrama Vibushana Padakkama, \"Rana Wickrama Padakkama\" and the \"Rana Sura Padakkama\" in three occasions in addition to the campaign and operational medals.\r\n\r\n Air Marshal Jayampathy presented a memento to mark the occasion which was reciprocated by the Chief of Defence Staff.
