DEFENCE SECRETARY Gotabhaya Rajapaksa hands over a ceremonial sword to an Air Force officer during a passing out parade held at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in China Bay, Trincomalee yesterday (21) where 329 airmen and 16 officers including six pilots passed out. An Air Force parachutist displays his skills.
Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa said that security Forces must be on full alert even after the operations are over. The country was in the grips of terrorism for the last 30 years and a continuous security vigil would help to maintain a terrorism free nation.
Addressing a ceremony after a passing out parade at the Sri Lanka Air Force Base in China Bay, Trincomalee yesterday (21,) Rajapaksa said that the SLAF is the world’s only Air Force which has the experience of defeating a terrorist organinsation. It is also the best Air Force in the world, he said.
"These officers and airmen who passed out today had joined the SLAF at the height of operations against the LTTE. I must be thankful to you for joining the SLAF at a time when many others were in fear of joining the SLAF. I am also grateful to parents who permitted their sons to join the security forces," Rajapaksa said.
The SLAF had done a great job in addition to their allocated duty during last three and half years and the SLAF’s role in ground security operations must also be appreciated, he said.
A total of 329 airmen and 16 officers including six pilots passed out yesterday after the completion of training in navigation, electrical engineering, administration and ground combat. The cadet officers had undergone the initial training at Diyatalawa SLAF base for 20 weeks and basic administration course at combat training school in China Bay.
(Courtesy: The Island)
