The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) will celebrate its 73rd Anniversary on March 2. Upholding its rich tradition, the “Air Force Day” will be the premier event in its calendar.
This year’s celebrations will commence with a “Pichcha Mal Pooja” on the eve of March 1 at the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara with the participation of the Commander and a cross-section of officers and other ranks and civilians. Additionally, arrangements have been made to hold Catholic, Islamic and Hindu religious ceremonies.
The formal Air Force Day celebrations will be held at SLAF Headquarters on March 2 with all SLAF establishments under the leadership of Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksa. The press briefing for the “73rd Air Force Anniversary” celebration and “Air Tattoo and Exhibition-2024” was held on Wednesday ( February 14), chaired by the Commander of the Air Force at the Air Force Headquarters, Sri Jayewardenepura. He said unlike the previous years, this year the SLAF has decided to celebrate the 73rd anniversary in the Northern Province, focusing on the future minds of the nation. This initiative, named “Wings of Friendship,” aims to promote quality education and environmental sustainability, aligned with the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Under this initiative, several sub-projects have been planned for implementation in the Northern Province. This includes the development or renovation of 73 deserving schools in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu with an estimated total cost of Rs.100 million. Additionally, 73,000 books will be donated to schoolchildren under the program “Magen Pothak Uthurata,” with an estimated cost of Rs. 25 million. Another sub-project involves planting 73,000 saplings in the Northern Province.
The “Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya -2024” will be conducted for the 25th consecutive year, in line with the 73rd Anniversary of the SLAF. Scheduled to start from Colombo March 3 and end at Jaffna on March 7, the total distance covered by the men’s race is over 650 km, while the women’s race covers close to 100 km.
The amateur “Air Force Commander’s Cup Challenge Friendly Football Tournament-2024” commenced on February 10 at the Kilinochchi – Northern Province Sports Complex. Eleven sports clubs representing the Northern Province, registered under the Sri Lanka Football Federation, are competing in this tournament. The primary objective is to identify young talented footballers and bring them to the national level.
The “Air Tattoo – 2024” educational and technical exhibition will be held from March 6 to 10 at Mutttraveli Stadium, Jaffna.
