Commander Invited to ‘Air Symposium 2016’ as Special Guest

Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF)-organized annual Air Symposium began its sessions on Thursday (1) at Eagle’s Lakeside Banquet and Convention Hall in Attidiya, Dehiwela, amidst a gathering of experts and foreign delegates.

Eng Karunasena Hettiarachchi, Secretary Defence graced the inaugural occasion as the Chief Guest at the invitation of the Sri Lanka Air Force.

Air Marshal Kapila Jayampathy, Commander of the SLAF greeted all attendees to the second Air Symposium in his welcome speech after the traditional oil lamp lighting was over.

Lieutenant General Crishanthe De Silva, Commander of the Army at the invitation of his SLAF counterpart attended the opening ceremony as a special invitee.

This year's theme 'Air Power in the context of Regional Defence and Security' in the sessions will focus on a wide range of issues, pertaining to airmen, air operations, regional and global Air Forces with special relevance to different technical innovations in the face of multiple challenges in the air space.

The two-day symposium, attended by a host of Air Force experts and different specialists, including foreigners will continue until Friday (2) afternoon.

The Air Symposium is to bring together the knowledge of professionals and experts in various fields to be in one forum in order to be better equipped to face present and future defence and security challenges in the region.

Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke, Chief of Defence Staff, Vice Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Commander of the Navy and a host of invitees graced the inaugural occasion.