President appoints new Chief of Defence Staff, Air Force Commander

President Maithripala Sirisena has appointed Air Chief Marshal Kolitha Gunathilaka as the new Chief of Defence Staff and Air Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala as the new Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force.

The President handed over letters of appointment to the new officers yesterday at the Presidential Secretariat.

Air Chief Marshal Gunathilaka joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as a Cadet Officer in 1980. He was educated at St. Thomas’ College Bandarawela and Royal College Colombo. He has served as the 14th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force since 2014. Air Vice Marshal Gagan Bulathsinhala joined the Sri Lanka Air Force in 1981 as a Cadet Officer. He studied at Nalanda College Colombo. He will resume his duties today as the 15th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force.