Published on - 3/12/2005
Acting Commander of the Army and Chief of Staff, Major General Sarath Fonseka, accompanied by Senior Officers of the Army on Wednesday (9) accorded a rousing welcome plus a Guard of Honour to the visiting Chief of the Air Staff of the Pakistan Air Force, Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat NI ( M )at Army Headquarters, Colombo.
Colourful and magnificent ceremonial outriders of the Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, escorted by the pilot jeep after the Air Chief's arrival at the main entrance to the Headquarters complex, wended their way towards the podium entrance to the Commander's office where he inspected the Guard Turnout before he was conducted to the saluting dais by the Colonel Commandant of Sri Lanka Signal Corps.
Culmination of the highlight of the day, Guard of Honour, accorded on his behalf, saw the visiting Chief being introduced to Senior Military Officers and all Principal Staff Officers who were present on the occasion before he was ushered to the Commander's office.
Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat during his meeting with acting Commander of the Army, Major General Sarath Fonseka shared his views on several bilateral matters of military significance. Towards the latter part of his itinerary, the visiting Air Chief was joined by others to a table of sweetmeats and tea.
A memento to mark his visit to the Army Headquarters was also presented to the visiting delegate by acting Commander of the Army before he left the office premises. The visiting delegate also placed his signature on the VIP Book. Deputy Chief of Staff Major General M.D.S Chandrapala was also associated in the discussions
Lieutenant Colonel S.K.G.N.B.Ehelamalpe, Commanding Officer of the Headquarters Battalion at Army Headquarters received him at Army Headquarters Main entrance.
Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, Chief of the Air Staff, Pakistan Air Force joined PAF Academy, Risatpur in August, 1968 and graduated in March, 1971 On completion of Fighter Conversion Course, he served, F – 86 and F – 6 fighter squadrons for three years before going for Flying Instructors' Course and becoming a Flying Instructor at PAF Academy, Risalpur in 1975. He was deployed as Exchange Pilot in Izmir, Turkey in 1977 – 78. After serving at the fighter squadrons in Pakistan for two years, he went for Combat Commanders' Course and was later deployed in Algeria as Instructor Pilot on MIG – 15 and Fouga CM 10, in 1980. On return from Algeria, he commanded a fighter quadroon from 1984 to 1986. After that, he qualified Air W Course and stayed on the casualty of Air War College for two years.
He remained in France for two years (1989 – 90) while attending Inter Services War Course at the Eole Militaire in Paris and returned to Pakistan to Command a flying wing fighter base (1997 - 1999). He was also posted as Director Plans (1992 to 1994) and Chief Instructor at the National Defence College for one year (1999 – 2000) be served as Deputy Chief of he Air Staff (Operations) from November. 2000 to November 2002, where he was responsible for coordinating Operation Enduring Freedom – related operations office of Deputy Chief of the Air Staff (personnel) for four months before being appointed Chief of the Air Staff in March 2003.
He is the holder of all four military medals Tamgha, Sotara, Hilal and Nishan – I – imtaz (Military). He ismarried and has two daughters and a son.
