INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe has been appointed as the new Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).The appointment is
effective from 29 January 2025.The incumbent Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), Air Marshal Udeni Rajapaksha, is slated to retire
from the service on January 29.Air Vice Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe, born on 20 June 1970 in Kandy, is a proud product of St
He joined the Sri Lanka Air Force through 24th intake as an Officer Cadet in 1991 and was commissioned as a Pilot Officer in the General
Due to lack of pilots in the rotary wing, he was posted to the rotary wing and completed his training on Bell 206/212/412 in the year
He earned his captaincy as a well performed pilot and involved in Utility flying in North and East of the country.Air Vice Marshal
Edirisinghe followed Instructional Training Course at SLAF Base Hingurakgoda and became a Qualified Helicopter Instructor in the year 1998
He is an A2 rated Helicopter Instructor from the Central Flying School Royal Air Force who has gained over 3000 flying hours on helicopter
Examiner in the helicopter stream
has exposure of other foreign trainings in countries such as Bangladesh, India and Singapore
Edirisinghe was posted to the VIP/ VVIP Flying Squadron in 2003 as a VVIP pilot, flying Bell 412/412 EP
He has been entrusted with many key appointments as Officer Commanding Training and Operations in several Flying Squadrons and commanded No
Also, he held the appointment of the Senior Directing Staff at newly formed National Defence College in Sri Lanka and later he was appointed
as the Commandant of the Sri Lanka Air Force Academy China Bay along with the appointment of Acting Air Commander for Eastern Air Command
In 2022, Air Vice Marshal Edirisinghe initially held the positions of Director Training and Director Air Operations within the
Operations before ultimately being appointed as the Director General Planning.For acts of Valour and exemplary service, he has been awarded
with "Weera Wickrama Vibhushanaya", "Rana Wickrama Padakkama", and "Rana Sura Padakkama" on three occasions and "Uttama Seva Padakkama"
