Harsha Abeywickrama

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Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon

Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon.[1]

Early life and education

Abeywickrema was born on 28 November 1960. He was educated at

MSc degree in Management from the General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University.[2]

SLAF career

Abeywickrema joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an

Flying Officer Abeywickrema who flew transport aircraft was transferred to fly light attack turboprop aircraft SIAI-Marchetti SF.260. He also qualified as a Qualified Flying Instructor (QFI).[3]

In the late 1980s the Sri Lanka Air Force felt the need to reintroduce jet fighters to its fleet having retired its last jet fighters in the late 1970's. Lacking jet qualified pilots, Squadron leader Abeywickrema who had experience on light attack aircraft was selected as the first commanding officer of the

Avro 748 killing over 100 military personnel including the SLAF Northern Zonal Commander, Wing Commander Roger Weerasinghe and Wing Commander Shirantha Goonatilake in April 1995.[4]

He was instrumental in selecting the

SLAF Ratmalana following which he became the Zonal Commander East and Chief Instructor of Air Wing of the Defence Services Command and Staff College. He graduated from Royal College of Defence Studies.[2][3]

At the

Air Force Headquarters, he was appointed to the Air Force Board of Management as the Director Operations in year 2006 and thereafter as the Director Air Operations. He was subsequently appointed as the Deputy Chief of Staff whilst continuing as the Director Air Operations in year 2008, and in year 2011 he was entrusted to overlook the duties of the Director Logistics in addition to his appointment as the Deputy Chief of Staff.[2][3]

At the

Air Vice Marshal, while serving as Director Air Operations and in 2011 was given the role of Director Logistics while serving as the Deputy Chief of Staff. In February 2011, he was appointed Commander of the Air Force having been promoted to the rank of Air Marshal. In 2014 he retired from the Air Force and was promoted to the rank of Air Chief Marshal.[2][3][6]

Air Chief Marshal Abeywickrema has been awarded the gallantry medals Rana Wickrama Padakkama and Rana Sura Padakkama for combat bravery, the service medals Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya, Uttama Seva Padakkama and Sri Lanka Armed Services Long Service Medal.[2][3]

Later work

After his retirement from the Air Force, Abeywickrema was appointed as the Chairman of the largest state bank, Bank of Ceylon.[7][2][8]

Family

Abeywickrama is married to Neelika a lawyer and they have one son, Kasun. He is an active golfer.

References

  1. ^ a b No regrets about retiring – Air Marshal Abeywickrama
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Air Chief Marshall Harsha Abeywickrema assumes duties as the Bank of Ceylon's New Chairman". asiantribune.com. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Air Chief Marshal HD Abeywickrama". airforce.lk. Sri Lanka Air Force. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  4. ^ Ferdinando, Shamindra. "US powered Israeli jets enhance SLAF capability". Island. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  5. ^ How a Tiger plane was destroyed over Mullaitivu[permanent dead link]
  6. ^ Ferdinando, Shamindra. "A difficult beginning: SLAF re-enters jet era with acquisition of F7s". Island. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  7. ^ "Former Commander of Air Force will be on the Chief Chair at Bank of Ceylon from the 15th". Archived from the original on 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2014-04-15.
  8. ^ "Air Chief Marshall Harsha Abeywickrema is BoC chairman". Island. Retrieved 14 May 2020.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Roshan Goonatilake
 Commander of the Sri Lankan Air Force
2012-2014 		Succeeded by
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