Flying through 41 years of friendship

True and great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget

As the 9th Intake of officer cadets, we celebrate 41 years, since joining the Sri Lanka Air Force on February 12, 1981. When we joined, the Sri Lanka Air Force Air Chief Marshal Harry Goonetileke was the Commander. Just to reminiscence, we did our basic combat training at Diyathalawa as a batch of 30 cadets and one student officer all from leading schools.   

Whilst being under training at Diyathalawa the branches were allocated to us that encompassed a majority of the disciplines for the first time in a single intake.  
We had four from General Duties Pilots, four from Technical Engineering, three from Technical Signals, four from Logistics, two from Air Field Construction, three from Administrative, nine from Administrative/Regiment, one from Operations Air, one from Agro, branches and all the cadets completed the basic training.

Our intake was a large intake at that time since the 1st intake of officer cadets. Further, we were infamous for the mischief and discipline as per the Air Force parlance. Many avid sportsmen in our intake excelled in cricket, rugby, basketball, and hockey who represented the Air Force and some of the sports at the national level.   
We made our training progression in the respective branches with time mainly at the Air Force Academy China-Bay. On completion of one and a half years of training cadets of all other branches were commissioned.   
However, the pilots were commissioned, late after two years and two months to be precise. The delay was due to the aircraft fuel storage that prevailed at the time. Each of us chose the furtherance of the career advancement and some left the Air Force due to various reasons at different times. It remains a fact that our batch was in the thick of the conflict with the LTTE that spanned from 1983 to 2009 and participated in most of the air operations, and ground operations.   

"We had four from General Duties Pilots, four from Technical Engineering, three from Technical Signals, four from Logistics, two from Air Field Construction, three from Administrative, nine from Administrative/Regiment, one from Operations Air, one from Agro, branches and all the cadets completed the basic training"

Further, six of us are decorated for gallantry in combat for bravery. In addition, most of the batch-mates were deployed in the north and east operational bases/units. Of those who remained in the Air Force the last to retire was in 2017.   
Further, it is relevant to share that our intake served under 11 separate commanders from the 5th Air Force Commander to the 16th Air Force Commander. Let me also proudly share that six of us, were members of the Air Force Board of Management (AFBM) at the zenith and held esteem appointments of the Commander, the Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and Directors. A total of eight reached the air ranks of Air Commodore (one star), Air Vice Marshal (two-star), and Air Chief Marshal (four-star).   
We as a batch had all shapes and shades of personalities, unique in their character with many talents, but fitted well with strong solidarity within the intake. At present, some of our batchmates are domiciled around the globe but we keep abreast and connected. The technical innovations of the millennium have made this connectivity so much easier.   

Though we do not always meet up very frequently we know that we are always there in each other’s minds. As batchmates, we talk to each other and helped each other in difficulties. In addition, our batch is considered as a very united and closely-knit family with a strong sense of solidarity. The intake family was extended with each of us entering into matrimony and the latest addition is the third generation.   
The spouses of our intake keep the linkage stronger and never missed out on the regular socializing and fellowship. Our annual reunion is a calendar happening that is not missed though; we had to adjust due to the dire operational demands and in the last two years due to the Covid 19 pandemic.   
When we rekindle the memory out of the thirty-one, four have been Killed in Action (KIA) while performing active duty and four others have departed forever due to other reasons as of date.   

"Let me pen off with a pause, and salute all our batchmates who shed sweat, tears, together with their families, and finally blood for the nation and paid the supreme sacrifice to protect our motherland"

“True friends are like diamonds-bright, beautiful, valuable, and always in style”. - Nicole Richie

The first to depart was Squadron Leader CK Hulangamuwa (Regiment) on May 5, 1990. The untimely death occurred when he was onboard a Bell 212 helicopter as an observer in pursuit of a group that vandalized a tourist resort in Sigiriya, and very unfortunately the helicopter crashed killing all on board.  
The next to follow was Wing Commander Ranjan Pakyanathan (Pilot) and Wing Commander Hiran Karunartne (Loadmaster) who were in the same AN-32B aircrew that plunged into the sea abeam Ja-Ela on September 13, 1995, en route to the north on a regular flight.   
Wing Commander Lalith Nanayakkara (Flight Engineer) followed and departed forever on November 18, 1995, onboard a Y-8 cargo flight, when the aircraft was shot down by the LTTE and crashed into the sea away from the coastline in the close vicinity of the Palaly airfield.   

The other batchmates who have departed forever are Flight Lieutenant Asoka Fernando (Aeronautical Engineer) who succumbed to injury in a motorcar accident whilst serving. Group Captain Romesh Fernando (Logistics), Squadron Leader Nihal Kodithuwakku (Civil Engineer), and Air Commodore Senaka Angulugaha (Logistics), the last to depart due to health reasons after their retirement.
“Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.”
- Eleanor Roosevelt   

We cherish the wonderful camaraderie and esprit de corps of all of them with a heavy heart on this day. What wonderful human beings they were, and what a remarkable life they lived, though short. We feel so blessed that we knew each other and today we celebrate their life. Though the eight of them have left us forever, we continue to foster strong bonds with their near and dear. It is hard to believe that years have elapsed since we said “good-bye” to them but could not let this anniversary go by without sharing our thoughts for them. When we reflect on our young days it was extremely event full, unfortunately, we cannot replay or rewind time. We still remember the good times with our loyal chum, friend, and batchmate, “Adios Amigos”.   
May I also take this opportunity to acknowledge credit for the picture courtesy from Glorious Sporting History -Sri Lanka Air Force 1951-2021.   
Let me pen off with a pause, and salute all our batchmates who shed sweat, tears, together with their families, and finally blood for the nation and paid the supreme sacrifice to protect our motherland.   

Air Chief Marshal Gagan Bulathsinghala, RWP, RSP, VSV, USP, MPhil, MSc, FIM (SL), ndc, psc. was the former Commander of the Sri Lanka
 Air Force and Sri Lankan 
Ambassador to Afghanistan