Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admi ...
G Donald Perera
VSV,
USP is a
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka (, ; si, ශ්රී ලංකා, Śrī Laṅkā, translit-std=ISO (); ta, இலங்கை, Ilaṅkai, translit-std=ISO ()), formerly known as Ceylon and officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an ...
air officer who served as
commander of the Air Force from 2002 to 2006 and
Chief of the Defence Staff from 2006 to 2009. He served as Sri Lankan Ambassador to Israel.
Early life and education
Perera was educated at
S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia.
SLAF career
Perera joined the Sri Lanka Air Force as an
officer cadet in the general duties pilot branch in the officer cadet intake 1 of the
Air Force Academy, China Bay on 12 January 1972. On completing his flying training he was commissioned as a
pilot officer
Pilot officer (Plt Off officially in the RAF; in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly P/O in all services, and still often used in the RAF) is the lowest commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countri ...
on 19 October 1973. Serving as a squadron pilot in the
No. 2 Squadron SLAF, he logged over 7,500 flying hours on transports. He served as the Commandant Flying Training Wing, Air Force Academy, China Bay; Commanding officer, the No. 2 Squadron; Base Commander,
SLAF Katunayake and Zonal Commander - Western Zone; Base Commander,
SLAF China Bay and Zonal Commander - Eastern Zone and Acting Director Operations. He attended the
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College (ACSC) is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate-level Professional Military Education (PME) school. It is a subordinate command of the Air Uni ...
in 1990 and the
National Defence College, New Delhi in 1998. He was appointed Chief of Staff of the SLAF in December 1998. On 16 July 2002, he was appointed commander of the Air Force with promotion to the rank of
Air Marshal. He was appointed
Chief of the Defence Staff on 12 June 2006 with promotion to the rank of
Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admi ...
, during the final stages of the
Sri Lankan Civil War and retired on 15 July 2009. His awards include
Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya
The Vishista Seva Vibhushanaya (VSV, Distinguished Service Decoration) ( Sinhala: විශිෂ්ට සේවා විභූෂණය ''viṣiṣta sēvā vibhūṣaṇaya'') is awarded to senior officers of the Military of Sri Lanka in reco ...
,
Uttama Seva Padakkama
The Uttama Seva Padakkama (USP, Eminent Service Medal) ( Sinhala: උත්තම සේවා පදක්කම ''uṭṭama sēvā padakkama'') is presented to all ranks of the regular forces of the Sri Lankan military for:
Award process
Th ...
,
Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal
The Republic of Sri Lanka Armed Services Medal was awarded to members of the regular and volunteer forces of the Military of Sri Lanka who were in service on 22 May 1972, subject to recommendation by the commanders of the respective service com ...
,
Sri Lanka Air Force 50th Anniversary Medal,
,
President's Inauguration Medal,
50th Independence Anniversary Commemoration Medal,
North and East Operations Medal
The North and East Operations Medal ( Sinhala: උතුරු නැගෙනහිර සංග්රාමික පදක්කම ''uthuru nægenahira sangrāmika padakkama'') was a decoration presented to servicepersons of the Military o ...
,
Purna Bhumi Padakkama
The Purna Bhumi Padakkama ( Sinhala: පූර්ණ භූමි පදක්කම ''pūrna bhūmi padakkama'') was a service medal awarded by the Military of Sri Lanka (regular and volunteer) and Sri Lanka Police to all ranks of its forces in ...
,
Vadamarachchi Operation Medal and
Riviresa Campaign Services Medal.
Later work
Following is retirement as Chief of the Defence Staff, Perera was appointed Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Israel.
Siri Lankan ambassador: We back Israel's war on terror
/ref>
See also
* Sri Lankan Non Career Diplomats
References
External links
Air Chief Marshal G D Perera
, -
, -
Year of birth missing (living people)
Commanders of the Sri Lanka Air Force
Sri Lankan Air Chief Marshals
Sinhalese military personnel
Sri Lankan aviators
Living people
Ambassadors of Sri Lanka to Israel
Alumni of S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia
Sri Lanka Air Force Academy graduates
Air Command and Staff College alumni
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