Two female officers have been commissioned as Pilots for the first time in the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF).

The two officers were commissioned at the Air Force Academy China Bay a short while ago, SLAF announced.

Sri Lanka Air Force held its Commissioning and Wings Parade of the 61st Intake of Officers Cadets, 13th Lady Officer Cadets Intake, the No 33rd and No 34th Kotelawala Defence University Intakes this morning (November 16) at the SLAF Academy in China Bay.

At the event, Pilot Officer ADPL Gunarathe and Pilot Officer RT Weerawardana became the first Lady Officers to be awarded the prestigious Flying Brevet and be the pioneering female military aviators of Sri Lanka.

SLAF also said that today marked the first instance in the history of the SLAF when a Lady Officer commanded a parade with the Presidents Colour when Pilot Officer RT Weerawardana had the honour of taking over the parade as the new Parade Commander.

Pilot Officer RT Weerawardana created history yet again when she was awarded the prestigious “Sword of Honour” presented by Group Captain NR Raheem. The sword of honour is awarded to the Officer Cadet who has achieved the highest results in both academic and professional studies, and who has shown the best all-round performance throughout the course.

This is the first occasion in the history of the Sri Lanka Air Force when a Lady Officer has been awarded the “Sword of Honour”.